Page 107 - SAHCS HIVMed Journal Vol 20 No 1 2019

Page 5 of 9 Original Research

(odds ratio [OR] = 0.576, p < 0.1) compared to those aged they were at low risk of HIV infection compared to about a
30–35 years. Education was significantly related to knowledge third (32.5%) of respondents with secondary education and
about male circumcision. The results showed that the odds of close to two-fifths (37.8%) of those with primary education.
youth with primary education having high knowledge of
HIV were 78% lower (OR = 0.223, p < 0.05) compared to those There was a significant relationship between employment
with higher education. In addition, youth who reported status and perception of risk of HIV infection (significant at
having secondary education and having high knowledge about p < 0.001). Forty-one per cent of employed youth perceived
male circumcision were 71% lower (OR = 0.292, p < 0.05) themselves to be at low risk (40.8%), and 11.2% perceived
compared to those with higher education and having high themselves to be at high risk of HIV infection. On the other
knowledge about male circumcision. hand, 29% of the unemployed youth perceived themselves to
be at low risk, compared to 9.6% who perceived themselves
Further, the odds of young men who reported ever having to be at high risk of HIV infection.
tested for HIV having high knowledge about male
circumcision were 93% higher (OR = 1.93, p < 0.05) compared A similar proportion of respondents who had ever tested for
to those who had never tested for HIV. With respect to ever HIV (10.6%) and those who had never tested (9.5%) indicated
having heard of VMMC, the odds of youth who had ever that they were at a high risk of HIV infection. Additionally,
heard about VMMC compared to those who had not having 42.1% of those who had ever tested for HIV reported that
high knowledge about male circumcision were 250% higher they were at a low risk. With those who had never tested for
(OR = 3.50, p < 0.05). Youth who reported being circumcised HIV, 47.3% and 9.5% indicated that they were at low risk and
were more likely (OR = 1.78, p < 0.1) to have high knowledge at high risk of HIV infection, respectively.
about male circumcision compared to those who were
uncircumcised, with 78% higher odds.
Predictors of perception of risk of HIV infection
Table 5 presents the frequency distribution for respondents’ Table 7 shows the results of a multinomial logistic regression
perception of risk for HIV infection. Fifty-four per cent of the model. The results show the relationship between the
respondents perceived themselves not to be at risk of HIV background characteristics and the perception of risk of HIV
infection compared to 10.4% who indicated that they were at infection. In the model, the reference category for the
a higher risk. About a third (35.6%) perceived themselves to dependent variable is ‘No, not at risk at all’. The results
be at low risk of HIV infection. showed that holding other variables constant, the odds of a
man perceiving himself to be at a higher risk of HIV infection,
Table 6 shows that there was a significant association between relative to perceiving himself to be at no risk of HIV, were
the background characteristics and perception of risk to HIV higher (OR = 3.13, p < 0.05) among formerly married young
infection. Perception of low risk and high risk of HIV infection men than for never-married young men. Youth with
increased with increase in age. For example, 67.6%, 23.6% secondary education were significantly less likely (OR = 0.535,
and 8.8% of young people aged 15–19 years indicated that p < 0.1) to perceive themselves to be at higher risk compared
they were at no risk, low risk and high risk to HIV infection, to those with higher education. In addition, youth with
respectively. On the other hand, 44.2%, 42.5% and 13.3% of primary education were significantly less likely (OR = 0.530,
those aged 30–35 years indicated that they were at no risk, p < 0.05) to perceive themselves to be at low risk compared to
low risk and high risk for HIV infection, respectively. those with higher education.

With respect to marital status, while about a third (30.8%) of With regard to religion, the odds of a Pentecostal Christian
formerly married men indicated that they were at high risk of perceiving himself to be at higher risk were 66% (p < 0.05)
HIV infection, only 10% of never-married men and the same lower compared to young men who did not profess any
proportion of men married or living together indicated that religious faith. On the other hand, the odds of apostolic sect
they were at high risk of HIV infection. Forty-three per cent youth perceiving themselves to be at low risk of HIV infection
of married men indicated that they were at a low risk of HIV were lower by 49% (p < 0.05) compared to young men who
infection, while 31.9% of never-married men indicated that did not belong to any religion. The odds of Shona youth
they were at low risk of HIV infection.
perceiving themselves to be at low risk of HIV infection
compared to young men who belonged to other ethnic
There is a positive relationship between education and risk groups were 45% lower (p < 0.05). Further, the odds of young
perception of HIV infection. Nearly half (49.6%) of the men perceiving themselves to be at low risk of HIV infection
respondents with higher levels of education indicated that
relative to perceiving themselves to be at no risk were 102%
TABLE 5: Perception of risk of HIV infection. higher (OR = 2.01, p < 0.05) for those who had ever been
Perception of risk to HIV infection Frequency Percentage tested for HIV than for those who had never been tested for
No risk at all 423 54.0 HIV. The odds of youth who approved of VCT prior to male
Low risk 279 35.6 circumcision were less likely (OR = 0.486, p < 0.05) to perceive
High risk 82 10.4 themselves to be at a higher risk of HIV infection compared
Total 784 100.0 to their counterparts who did not approve of it.

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