INTRODUCTION

Globally the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) increased from 27.4 million to 33.7 million people from 2000 to 2012. A total of 2.1 million new cases were reported through 2012 [1]. January until March 2017, 10 376 people were reported to have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Indonesia that year [2]. It is estimated that many PLWHA are not aware that they are infected, mainly because of the limited availability and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV. The continued existence of a mindset that stigmatizes people who use VCT services as being at risk of contracting HIV severely hampers efforts to respond to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic [3]. Many people do not want to receive VCT services due to this stigma and the resulting discrimination [4].

As of 2017, HIV prevalence in women was 33.8% less than in men, but women are at high risk of contracting the virus from their husbands or partners and can even transmit HIV to a fetus during pregnancy or during childbirth [5]. Therefore, women and children comprise an emerging risk group for HIV. The results of a previous study indicated that women’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS is lower than that of men; therefore, if women do not have accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS, especially information related to how to determine their own and their partners’ HIV status and how to respond to that information, many new cases of HIV will continue to occur [6,7].

Knowledge about HIV/AIDS can take the form of knowledge about the modes of HIV transmission, how to prevent HIV (condom use), early detection (e.g., VCT services), and perceptions of PLWHA [8]. The level of knowledge about HIV in women in Indonesia remains very low, as previous studies have shown that many young women still do not know how HIV is transmitted and are unaware of methods of prevention and early detection [9]. Knowledge of VCT services can help individuals to become aware of their HIV status through HIV testing with pre-test and post-test counseling. VCT is a client-driven initiative, not a form of testing and counseling initiated by service providers in the context of clients seeking health care for other reasons [10].

A study from sub-Saharan Africa reported that socio-demographic characteristics such as socioeconomic inequality have a powerful impact on HIV transmission, despite not directly reflecting the adequacy of individuals’ knowledge [11]. Other studies have also reported that occupational and marital status were associated with behaviors related to HIV [12]. Knowledge related to HIV/AIDS was found to be positively correlated with behaviors related to HIV/AIDS prevention [8]. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among women in Indonesia and to investigate how socio-demographic factors affected Indonesian women’s knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

Data

This study used secondary data from the standard Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) in 2012. The IDHS aims to obtain detailed information about the Indonesian population, with an emphasis on family planning and health. The population of the IDHS in 2012 study was divided into men aged 15-54 years, young men aged 15-24 years, and women aged 15-49 years. The samples used were women of reproductive age (15-49 years). The sampling technique used for IDHS is multi-stage random sampling, grouped by province, district, and village grouped into urban-rural areas [13]. For this study, a sample of data from women participants was selected from the IDHS in 2012, and individuals with missing data were not analyzed. The total sample of this study was 34 984 Indonesian women.

Variables

The dependent variable was women’s knowledge about HIV measured by 12 statements related to VCT knowledge, modes of transmission, HIV prevention, and perceptions related to PLWHA. Knowledge about VCT was measured by whether the participant was aware of the VCT process and the location of VCT services. Knowledge of modes of transmission was measured by determining whether a participant that HIV could be transmitted through breastfeeding and sharing non-sterile needles, but not through sharing food, mosquito bites, and the supernatural or witchcraft. Knowledge of HIV prevention was measured by whether always using a condom during sex and having only one partner could prevent HIV. Perceptions related to PLWHA were determined from responses to items about whether PLWHA can continue to work, whether PLWHA can look healthy, and willingness to care for PLWHA. Knowledge about HIV was categorized as good or insufficient. A participant was considered to have good knowledge if she answered all 12 of these statements correctly; if there was a single incorrect answer, then the participant was classified as having insufficient knowledge. This is in accordance with the cut-off of the measurement of comprehensive knowledge about HIV [14].

The independent variables in this study were the socio-demographic characteristics of the women aged 15-49 years who comprised the IDHS sample. The participants were categorized into 7 age groups, and level of education was dichotomized as high (if a respondent had completed high school or college) or low (for education levels ranging from no school to junior high school). Locations of residence were divided into cities and villages according to the IDHS results. Marital status was categorized as unmarried, married, and divorced (or widowed). Occupational status was dichotomized as working and unemployed. The wealth index was assessed by indicators of household wealth based on the location of residence, and participants were grouped into 5 categories according to the wealth index.

Statistical Analysis

The chi-square test was used in the univariate and multivariate analyses to characterize the overall effects of socio-demographic variables on knowledge using logistic regression analysis with Stata version 12 (StataCorp., College Station, TX, USA) at a significance level (α) of 0.05. The results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values to indicate the magnitude and statistical significance of associations.

RESULTS

Of the 12 items used to measure knowledge of HIV (Table 1), the lowest proportion of correct answers was found for the item on the location of VCT services (7.4%), and the highest proportion of correct answers was found for the item inquiring about whether respondents knew that HIV can be transmitted through sharing non-sterile needles (92.0%).

Table 2 shows the distribution of the socio-demographic characteristics (age group, occupational status, marital status, education, location of residence, and wealth index) of Indonesian women according to knowledge of HIV. The age group of 30-34 years had the highest proportion of good knowledge of HIV (1.5%), while only 0.3% of respondents in the age group of 15-19 years had good knowledge of HIV.

Among women who were unemployed, 0.6% had good knowledge of HIV. Unmarried women had the highest percentage of good HIV knowledge compared to other groups defined by marital status. Women who had a high level of education (high school to college) were relatively likely (4.1%) to have good knowledge of HIV. Women living in urban areas had a higher level of good knowledge of HIV (1.3%) than their rural counterparts. Based on the level of wealth, the most affluent women had better knowledge of HIV than those in other categories. The chi-square test showed that all socio-demographic characteristics, except marital status, were related to HIV knowledge among Indonesian women (p<0.05).

The results of multivariate analysis with multiple logistic regression (Table 3) show that 2 models were formed using the enter method, with model 1 being a crude model and model 2 being a multivariate model. In model 2, the age categories of 25-39 years, education level, residence, and level of wealth (except the poor category) showed significant effects on Indonesian women’s knowledge of HIV. The 30-34 years age group had an OR of 1.55 for having good knowledge of HIV compared to women aged 15-19 years. Women with a high education level demonstrated an OR for having good HIV knowledge of 2.43 compared to women who had a low education level. Women who lived in cities were 1.33 times more likely to have good knowledge of HIV/AIDS than women who lived in villages. The richest women were 2.13 times more likely to have good knowledge of HIV/AIDS than the poorest women.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study show that very few women in Indonesia had a comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. This result is similar to the findings of previous studies that revealed levels of knowledge of HIV/AIDS to still be low to moderate [15]. Comprehensive education on HIV/AIDS needs to be provided to women to prevent new HIV cases. Looking deeper into respondents’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS, the fewest correct responses were found for knowledge of VCT services, although testing is the only way to know one’s HIV status [16]. Knowledge of VCT has been disseminated through health services, print media, and social media, but the stigma of using VCT services means that information about VCT services may be ignored [17,18]. In contrast, a similar study found a high level of knowledge about VCT services among women, especially where to access VCT [19]. Dissemination of information about the benefits of VCT services in a way that reduces the existing stigma regarding these services would be an excellent step towards reducing new HIV cases, because VCT allows women to know their status.

Although the highest levels of knowledge were shown for how HIV is transmitted (through risky behavior, including unprotected sexual intercourse, the use of unsterile needles, blood, and breast milk), 100% of Indonesian women should have this knowledge [9]. As such, our findings are similar to those of previous study that reported the continued presence of many women who did not have sufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission [4].

A person’s knowledge can be affected by his or her surrounding environment, as partially reflected by socio-demographic characteristics. Table 3 shows that in model 1 all age groups 20+ years had significantly higher ORs for good knowledge about HIV / AIDS compared to the 15-19 year age group; However, in model 2 or multivariate model, this relationship was only found for the 25-39 year age group. This finding is similar to that of previous research stating that age plays an important role in knowledge of HIV/AIDS [20]. The 15-19 year age group had the lowest level of knowledge because they are still receiving education, and if they discontinue schooling, they will receive very limited access to information and knowledge.

Characteristics such as occupational status and marital status showed a significant relationship with knowledge of HIV/AIDS in the univariate analysis (p<0.05), but these relationships were not found in the multivariate analysis. This result is unlike that of a previous study that found significant relationships between marital and occupational status and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among young women aged 15-24 years [21].

Education level affected women’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS. A high level of education increased the chances of women having good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, which may have been because higher education causes women to be more proactive about their own health and to seek out information to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Previous research has also shown similar results, with higher levels of education linked to wider knowledge about HIV, especially modes of HIV transmission [22]. Therefore it is very important for women to receive higher levels of education (at least equal to that of men) so that their insights and knowledge will increase, especially with regard to maintaining HIV-free status.

Urban residence also increased women’s likelihood of having good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. It is well established that life in larger cities provides greater access to sources of information about HIV/AIDS and reduces the stigma of HIV/AIDS. Previous research explained that location of residence is a form of imbalance, especially in accessing information or health services, that impacts the level of one’s knowledge [23]. Previous research has stated that urban populations are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, especially women and children, but this trend can be overcome by access and adequate health services [24]. It is not surprising that good levels of knowledge related to HIV/AIDS were less common in rural areas than in cities. Therefore, it is necessary to empower rural communities, especially in terms of increasing women’s knowledge and capacity.

Wealth also affected women’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Similar results were obtained in previous studies that reported a positive relationship between the wealth index and women’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The richest women were 1.47 and 2.03 times more likely to have adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS than the poorest women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (adjusted OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.82) and Nigeria (adjusted OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.40) [21]. Other studies have also reported that wealth inequality was a significant predictor of HIV-related knowledge because wealth inequality could hinder access to accurate information about HIV [11].

A limitation of this study is that not all socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed, and there were some missing data that were not included in the analysis. Nonetheless, it is concluded that the low levels of knowledge related to HIV/AIDS shown by women in Indonesia indicate that the provision of accurate and comprehensive information related to HIV/AIDS should be emphasized as a component of interventions to prevent HIV transmission by increasing access or enhancing community empowerment (especially focusing on women). With accurate and comprehensive knowledge, it is expected that women will be more likely to determine their or their partners’ HIV status early, thereby preventing the emergence of new cases of HIV.

Notes

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest associated with the material presented in this paper.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Figure & Data

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