Determinants of HIV and AIDS Voluntary Counselling Testing among Women of Reproductive Age in South Africa

Abstract

HIV and AIDS have become the second most devastating global epidemic, after COVID-19, that the world has ever faced and highly affecting the young and economically active segment of the population. This epidemic is also a challenge in South Africa as new Infections of HIV increase among women more than in men. Effective behavioural change communication (BCC) strategies need to be designed to rescue the future development force of the nation. Thus, VCT for HIV is included as one of the strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention in HIV/AIDS policy, yet very little is known about what determines VCT services. Therefore, the study aims to identify Determinants of HIV and AIDS Testing among Women of Reproductive Age in South Africa. This study uses secondary data sourced from the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS). The data were summarized, analysed using Univariate, bivariate and Multivariate analysis to show the association between variables, and a binary logistic regression model was used to show the impact of different determinants of VCT by controlling different confounders. The results from the analysis indicate that there is a significant relationship between the following variables; age, region, education, household quintile, a total lifetime number of sex partners, recent sexual activity and knowledge and use of HIV test kits, and the HIV VCT services. The results indicated that a significant number (90.1%) of women in the reproductive age group had ever tested for HIV and AIDS. Evidently, the analysis exhibits that the women who were aged between 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44 in South Africa were more likely to be tested than those in the younger group. Regarding marital status, the study found out that women who never married were likely to use VCT as compared to married women, living together and divorced or separated. According to the results, women in provinces such as Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng and Limpopo were found more likely to be tested for HIV as compared to other provinces. Educational level is another variable that was found significant in this study and participants with higher education were less likely to test as compared to those with no education level. In addition, women with working status were less likely to test for HIV. Finally, the

results found that women engaging in unwarranted sexual risk behaviours by having sex with more than one partner were more likely to view the VCT services more favourably. The study, therefore, recommended that there must be a concerted effort to educate and increase awareness of HIV VCT services and sexual health knowledge. There should also be a comprehensive mobile application that will assist with HIV counselling for women who have HIV-positive and negative statuses. Stakeholders and Policy Makers should design and develop programmes that enhance positive sexual behaviour among the community members to promote better interpersonal relationship skills and psychological functioning. The study concluded by proposing further studies in the areas such as the influences of risky sexual behaviours and the causes of early sexual engagement amongst women.