ABSTRACT
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) account for a disproportionate number of new HIV infections among young people living with HIV. This study identified factors associated with the vulnerability of AGYW to HIV infection in Nigeria. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of AGYW aged 15–24 years in three states (Akwa-Ibom, Kaduna, and Oyo) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in Nigeria. We collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, risky sexual behaviors, practices, attitudes, perceptions of HIV, and related socio-cultural experiences from 4320 respondents. We identified twelve vulnerability factors and used a modified Delphi technique to assign relative weights to each. Composite vulnerability score was calculated by adding the weighted scores on all factors for each respondent and dichotomized using k-median analysis. Higher scores corresponded to higher vulnerability to acquiring HIV. More than 43% had a high vulnerability to HIV infection. Being older, of lower educational status, married, in a lower wealth quintile, and having low self-esteem were statistically significantly associated with being more vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Being knowledgeable about HIV prevention was protective but not statistically significant. We conclude that sociodemographic characteristics and self-esteem are important determinants of vulnerability to acquiring HIV among young women in Nigeria. Interventions targeted to reduce vulnerability to HIV among young women must address social-demographic and psychological risk factors.
Acknowledgments
We wish to acknowledge the National Prevention Technical Working Group members headed by the National Aids Control Agency (NACA) in Nigeria for their participation and contributions to the vulnerability factors’ operationalization. This research was funded by the Global Fund as part of its HIV New Funding Model. Olujide Arije was supported by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) under a DELTAS Africa Initiative grant [107768/Z/15/Z] as part of the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA). CARTA is jointly funded by DELTAS, the Carnegie Corporation of New York [B 8606.R02], and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) [54100029].
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.