Associated Risk Factors of HIV Infection among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Seeking Services at a Tertiary Hospital in central Uganda

Author(s): Iddi Matovu, Miph Musoke

Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) aged 15-24 years in Uganda's Central region face heightened HIV risk, despite the country's commitment to global HIV Infection reduction efforts for this demographic under Sustainable Development Goal 3.3. A quantitative, cross-sectional research was conducted to examine factors associated with HIV Infection among AGYW in the Central region, Uganda in order to guide the development and implementation of effective HIV risk reduction interventions. A total of 375 AGYW aged 15-24 years with unknown HIV status were selected [1] using simple random sampling from Masaka Hospital Out-Patient Department (122) and Maternal Child Health Department (253). HIV testing was guided by the World Health Organization standards [2]. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. Out of 351 AGYW interviewed and tested, 5.1% were HIV positive, a notably higher prevalence compared to the 2.9% reported among AGYW aged 15-24 in the central region for the period 2020-2021. HIV infection was significantly associated with alcohol use (AOR =0.261; 95% CI: 0.09- 0.74; p = 0.011< 0.05) and stigma (AOR =4.91; 95%CI: 1.523-15.812; p = 0.008< 0.05). Limiting alcohol use and addressing HIV stigma should be a priority in reducing HIV infections among AGYW in Central region, Uganda.