Behavioral, Demographic, and Clinical determinants of HIV Status in Zambian Women

The rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shows a diminishing trend globally while increasing in intensity of mortality, morbidity, and burden of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. The intertwined behavioral, demographic, and clinical determinants fueled the incidence of infections in Zambian women. This study aimed to determine the association between demographic, behavioral, and clinical determinants with HIV serostatus in Zambian women. With the conceptual framework of the World Health Organization’s Commission for Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) and the quantitative method of MANOVA, this study examined Zambian Demographic Health Survey data for Zambian women of two ages groups (adolescent and adult). The findings showed statistically significant results in the association between HIV serostatus and self-perceived HIV risk for both groups and in the association between education and HIV serostatus among women in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant association between behavioral, demographic, and clinical determinants of HIV serostatus. These findings imply the need to conduct prospective studies on such determinants to curb HIV and improve women’s community health in Africa. Author Summary Zambia is a country in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, which is disproportionately facing the risk of HIV increase in infection rate and the number of people impacted. HIV exposure shows an extraordinary rise for women aged 18–49 years old. The behavioral, demographic, and clinical determinants of HIV serostatus form an intricate web that snares adolescent and adult women, deteriorating their quality of life and their mental and emotional well-being.