Social determinants of awareness and behavior regarding STDs and HIV/AIDS among ever married women in Bangladesh

Background. About 8,900 people are living with HIV/AIDS, and 1,000 AIDS-related deaths had been reported in Bangladesh by the end of 2014.

Objectives. The study investigates the social determinants of awareness and behavior regarding STDs and HIV/AIDS among ever married women in Bangladesh.

Material and methods. This cross-sectional research extracted data concerning 17,828 ever married women from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) in 2014. The chi-square (χ2) and multinomial logistic regression model were used to identify the factors associated with knowledge, awareness and behavior concerning STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Results. Overall, 28.6% of examined ever married women have never heard of STDs or HIV/AIDS nor any of their prevention methods. Also, only 15.6% of reported women were the decision makers regarding the use of contraception during sexual intercourse, and 91.3% of women had the capacity to refuse sexual contact with their STD-infected husband/partner. Women who belong to households classified as lower class (OR = 0.525, 95% CI = 0.461–0.598) or middle class (OR = 0.643, 95% CI = 0.564–0.733) had less comprehensive knowledge and awareness of STDs and HIV/AIDS than those categorized as upper class. Women at a level of education below secondary (OR = 0.200, 95% CI = 0.179–0.223) also had less comprehensive knowledge and awareness than highly educated women. Moreover, women living in an urban residence (OR = 1.141, 95% CI = 1.003–1.297) were more likely to make the decision of using contraception and (OR = 1.546, 95% CI = 1.351–1.770) more likely to refuse sexual contact with an STD-infected husband/partner than their rural counterparts. Formally unemployed women (OR = 0.894, 95% CI = 0.793–1.010) were less likely to refuse sexual intercourse with an STD-infected husband than employed women.

Conclusions. Social determinants such as education, wealth and media exposure determine the level of knowledge and awareness and affect the behavior of women concerning STDs and HIV/AIDS.