Perception Towards Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Among Women of Reproductive Age: Analysis of Nationwide Surveys in India.

Introduction: The knowledge of HIV prevention, attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV), and beliefs in myths related to HIV/AIDS among women of reproductive age group in India hold immense importance. As this group is particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, having accurate knowledge about prevention methods is crucial to protect themselves and their partners. Positive attitudes towards PLHIV foster support, reduce stigma and encourage early testing and treatment. Additionally, debunking myths and misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS can help dispel fear and promote informed decision-making. Empowering women with comprehensive knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and debunking myths can contribute to effective HIV prevention strategies, reduce transmission rates, and improve women's overall well-being in India.

Objectives: Our objective was to create a regression model to show disparities in knowledge of the prevention of HIV/AIDS, attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS, and belief in myths among women in India with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for different socio-demographic factors, and to determine if there are any significant changes in the aOR during both surveys.

Study Design: A comparative study using secondary data analysis of two complex sample surveys.

Methods: Individual Recode files from datasets obtained from Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) Program were exported to STATA v17.0 MP by STATA Corp LLC. Dependent and independent variables were chosen based on a literature review and computed. The design-adjusted chi-square test was used to assess the association between variables. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to derive a model. The model assessment was performed using the Wald test after estimation.

Results: The age group of 15-19 years had the highest odds of having sufficient knowledge of the prevention of HIV/AIDS during both National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) (aOR: 1.98 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 1.80 during NFHS-5). No education group had the highest odds of negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS during both surveys (aOR: 4.85 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 2.69 during NFHS-5). Rural areas had higher odds of believing in myths related to HIV/AIDS during both surveys (aOR: 1.07 during NFHS-4 and aOR: 1.13 during NFHS-5).

Conclusions: This research study sheds light on the significant relationship between demographic factors and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to HIV/AIDS among women. Specifically, women in the lower age group, lacking education, and residing in rural areas exhibited substantial levels of inadequate knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS prevention. Furthermore, this group was also associated with higher proportions of negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and a greater tendency to believe in myths associated with HIV/AIDS.