title: Trends and determinants of HIV/AIDS knowledge among women in Bangladesh.
abstract: Globally, women share an indiscriminate burden of the HIV epidemic and the associated socioeconomic consequences. Previous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between levels of HIV knowledge with its prevalence. However, for Bangladesh such evidence is non-existent. In this study, we aimed to explore the extent of HIV knowledge in relation to the socio-demographic variables such as age, region, area of residence i.e., urban or rural, wealth index and education, and investigate the factors influencing the level of HIV knowledge among Bangladeshi women.
  
  
  
  We used data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) survey conducted in 2011. In total 12,512 women ageing between 15 and 49 ever hearing about HIV regardless of HIV status were selected for this study. HIV knowledge level was estimated by analyzing respondents' answers to a set of 11 basic questions indicative of general awareness and mode of transmission. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation and multinominal logistic regression were performed for data analysis.
  
  
  
  Little over half the respondents had good knowledge regarding HIV transmission risks. The mean HIV knowledge score was -0.001 (SD 0.914). Average correct response rate about mode of transmission was higher than for general awareness. Educational level of women and sex of household head were found to be significantly associated with HIV knowledge in the high score group. Those with no education, primary education or secondary education were less likely to be in the high score group for HIV knowledge when compared with those with higher than secondary level of education. Similarly those with male as household head were less likely to be in the higher score group for HIV knowledge.
  
  
  
  Level of HIV knowledge among Bangladeshi women is quite low, and the limiting factors are rooted in various demographic and household characteristics. Education and sex of the household head have been found to be significantly correlated with the level of HIV knowledge and propound sound grounds for their incorporation in the future HIV prevention strategies. Education of women may also have wider ramifications allowing reduction in gender inequality, which in turn favors higher knowledge about HIV.
authors.affiliation: School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. sanni.yaya@uOttawa.ca.
authors.forename: Sanni
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4876-6043
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaya
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Ghose
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bishwajit
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danhoundo
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Vaibhav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: The Women's Health and Action Research Centre, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekholuenetale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D003710:Demography; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bangladesh; Demographic and health survey; Global health; HIV knowledge; Women health