Socioeconomic Inequality in Knowledge About HIV and Its Contributing Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multicountry and Decomposition Analysis.

Aim: To examine the socioeconomic inequality in knowledge about HIV and its contributing factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We have used the most recent demographic and health survey data of the 15 sub-Saharan African countries. 204,495 women of reproductive age made up the entire weighted sample. Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) was utilized to evaluate socioeconomic inequality in knowledge about HIV. The variables that contributed to the observed socioeconomic inequality were determined using decomposition analysis.

Results: We found the pro-rich inequality in knowledge about HIV (the weighted ECI was 0.16 with a Standard error = 0.007 and P value< 0.001). The decomposition analysis indicated that educational status (46.10%), wealth status (30.85%), listening to the radio (21.73%), and reading newspapers (7.05%) were among the contributors to the pro-rich socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge about HIV.

Conclusion: Having knowledge about HIV is concentrated among rich reproductive-age women. Educational status, wealth status, and media exposure were the major contributors and should be a priority for interventions to reduce the inequality in knowledge about HIV.