Factors associated with premarital HIV testing among married women in Ethiopia

Premarital HIV testing is the key entry point in prevention, care, treatment, and support services, in which people learn their HIV status and its implications to make informed decisions about their health. This study was, therefore, conducted to identify factors associated with premarital HIV testing among married women in Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study design was used, and secondary data analysis was done using 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey (EDHS). Two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique was used. The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Frequencies and weighted percentage of the variables, and second-order Rao-Scott statistic were computed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to control confounders and to identify predictors of premarital HIV testing. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was considered to declare statistically significant associations.

The total sample comprised 9602 married women. In this study, the odds of premarital HIV testing were associated with being urban residents (AOR: 1.81; 95% CI: 2.74-5.20), attended primary education (AOR:1.54; 95%:1.27-1.87), secondary education (AOR:2.34; 95% CI:1.70-3.23), higher education (AOR:2.92; 95% CI:1.90-4.50), access to media (AOR: 1.44; 95% CI:1.20-1.76), being rich (AOR: 1.52; 95%CI:1.12-2.07), andrichest (AOR: 1.67;95%CI:1.15-2.44), known the place of HIV testing (AOR: 4.95; 95% CI:3.44-7.11), discriminatory attitude to PLHIV (AOR: 1.47; 95%CI:1.23-1.76), being khat chewer(AOR: 1.60;95%CI:1.11-2.31), and alcohol drinker (AOR: 1.55; 95% CI:1.27-1.90).

It is possible to conclude that being urban resident, attending education (primary, secondary, higher), media access, improved wealth index, knowing the places for HIV testing, chewing khat, drinking alcohol, and having discriminatory attitude towards PLHIV were positively associated with premarital HIV testing. The Ethiopian government needs to step up efforts to expand education for all Women. Advancing access to HIV testing for rural women may also increase premarital HIV testing services uptake. Further qualitative researches need to be done to assess the relationship between discriminatory attitude towards PLHIV and premarital HIV testing.