Analysis of factors associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among people aged 15-49 years in Eswatini: evidence from the 2021-2022 multiple indicator cluster survey
Eswatini faces one of the highest HIV infection rates globally, largely due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of transmission and prevention methods. This study, utilizing data from the Eswatini Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2020-2021, aimed to identify factors associated with knowledge of HIV/AIDS among individuals aged 15-49. A total of 3665 respondents were analyzed using a retrospective cross-sectional methodology and survey logistics regression. The findings indicated that age, education, media engagement, and Internet usage significantly correlated with comprehensive HIV knowledge. Notably, individuals aged 30-44 had higher odds of knowledge compared to those aged 45-49, while higher education increased knowledge odds over twofold. Additionally, regular reading of newspapers and Internet usage were linked to greater awareness. The study suggests that HIV prevention programs should target adolescents and marginalized groups in Eswatini.