Socioeconomic Inequalities in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Sero-Prevalence among Women in Namibia: Further Analysis of Population-Based Data

Michael Ekholuenetale, Herbert Onuoha, Charity Ehimwenma Ekholuenetale, Amadou Barrow and Chimezie Igwegbe Nzoputam
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Michael Ekholuenetale: Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
Herbert Onuoha: Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Charity Ehimwenma Ekholuenetale: Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja 900211, Nigeria
Amadou Barrow: Department of Public & Environmental Health, School of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, Kanifing 3530, The Gambia
Chimezie Igwegbe Nzoputam: Department of Community Health, Center of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: Socioeconomic inequality is a major factor to consider in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate socioeconomic inequalities in HIV prevalence among Namibian women. Data from a population-based household survey with multistage-stratified sample of 6501 women were used to examine the link between socioeconomic inequalities and HIV prevalence. The weighted HIV prevalence was 13.2% (95% CI: 12.1–14.3%). The HIV prevalence among the poorest, poorer, middle, richer, and richest households was 21.4%, 19.7%, 16.3%, 11.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. Similarly, 21.2%, 21.7%, 11.8%, and 2.1% HIV prevalence was estimated among women with no formal education and primary, secondary, and higher education, respectively. Women from poor households (Conc. Index = ?0.258; SE = 0.017) and those with no formal education (Conc. Index = ?0.199; SE = 0.015) had high concentration of HIV infection, respectively. In light of these findings, HIV prevention strategies must be tailored to the specific drivers of transmission in low socioeconomic groups, with special attention paid to the vulnerabilities faced by women and the dynamic and contextual nature of the relationship between socioeconomic status and HIV infection.

Keywords: low socioeconomic; HIV/AIDS; Namibia; concentration index; inequalities; women’s health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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