Brief Communication: Understanding Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among Tanzanian Women of Reproductive Age

Brief Communication: Understanding Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among Tanzanian Women of Reproductive Age | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Brief Communication: Understanding Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among Tanzanian Women of Reproductive Age Mtoro J. Mtoro, Elihuruma Eliufoo Stephano, Sahnun Ally Kessy, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in AIDS Research and Therapy → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Women of reproductive age face the greatest burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS is vital for effective prevention. Using 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data, we employed descriptive statistics and weighted binary logistic regression. Only 15.9% of women had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Higher knowledge was associated with being previously married, educated, literate, employed, wealth quantile, using internet, sexually transmitted infections awareness, and tested for HIV. Older age was associated with lower odds. Multifaceted interventions are needed, especially for older, less educated women, using diverse communication and health services engagement. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Reproductive Aged Women Tanzania Background Women, particularly those of reproductive age, are disproportionately affected with Human deficiency Virus (HIV), exhibiting higher prevalence rates (5.6%) compared to men (3.0%) [ 1 ]. Recent data from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey indicate persistent geographical and age-related disparities, with regions such as Mbeya, Iringa, and Njombe demonstrating elevated prevalence and new infections [ 1 , 2 ]. Previous studies have shown that factors including educational level, age, wealth index and media exposure are linked to acquiring HIV infections and limited knowledge about HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency virus) can also contribute to new HIV infections [ 3 , 4 ]. Tanzania is classified as a lower-middle-income country where women of reproductive age often encounter socioeconomic challenges that could impact health outcomes. Most women live in rural settings and derive their livelihoods primarily from agriculture and informal sectors [ 5 ]. Educational levels vary, with low levels being common in rural settings impacting health literacy [ 6 ]. HIV/AIDS healthcare is primarily provided through the public health service system, and typically ranges from dispensaries, which may have limited infrastructure to more equipped regional hospitals [ 7 ]. This varied public health landscape, and the prevailing socioeconomic conditions are crucial contextual factors for understanding the health-seeking behaviors and comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among Tanzanian women of reproductive age. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, encompassing accurate understanding of transmission, prevention, and rejection of misinformation is vital for prevention and treatment [ 8 ]. Women of reproductive age are key to epidemic control, their knowledge directly influences their health behaviors, testing, and treatment adherence, all vital for avoiding vertical transmission and curbing population-level incidence [ 9 ]. However, evidence from Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicates that comprehensive HIV knowledge among reproductive-aged women remains suboptimal, with disparities by age, education, wealth, and media exposure [ 4 , 10 ]. A recent SSA reported only 38.6% of women had comprehensive knowledge [ 4 ]. These knowledge gaps hinder testing uptake, risk reduction and adherence, ultimately affecting epidemic control and progress toward the 95-95-95 targets [ 10 ]. Given that knowledge is a modifiable factor, understanding its distribution and determinants can inform the development of tailored interventions in educational programming, policy prioritization, and resource allocation [ 8 ]. Spatial and demographic variations in recent HIV impact surveys underscores the need for localized analyses to guide targeted interventions [ 1 ]. Using the 2022 Tanzania Demographics and Health Survey (TDHS) data, this study examines comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania and identifies associate socio-demographic and behavioral factors. Findings aim to inform polices and program to strength HIV prevention and control. Material and Methods Data source, design, population and sampling This study was an analytical cross-sectional survey that utilized secondary data from the 2022 TDHS, which conducts nationally representative population-based household surveys typically every five years.​ The Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics conducted the survey with the Ministries of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar in collaboration with other stakeholders. The recent TDHS was conducted between 24 February to 21 July 2022 across all regions in Tanzania. The target population for the 2022 TDHS included women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across the 32 administrative regions in Tanzania. The detailed methodology of the TDHS has been explained elsewhere [ 11 ]. We used the individual file with 15,254 women. Study Variables Dependent variable The outcome variable of the study was comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, defined as a composite measure based on responses to five ‘yes/no’: (1) Consistent condom use during sex reduces the risk of HIV infection; (2) Having a single, uninfected, and monogamous partner reduces the risk of HIV; (3) A healthy-looking person can have HIV; (4) HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites; and (5) HIV can be transmitted by sharing food with someone who has AIDS. Women were considered to have comprehensive knowledge if they answered all five questions correctly, responding “Yes” to questions 1, 2, and 3, and “No” to questions 4 and 5 [ 4 , 12 , 13 ]. Independent variables We included the following variables based on the available data and literature; women’s age, education level, marital status, literacy level, wealth index, media exposures, household member, working status, sex of household head, internet use, visited health facility in the past 12 months, visited by community health worker in the past 12 months, ever tested for HIV, ever heard of Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) and place of residence. Statistical analysis Data management and analysis were performed using STATA 18.5 (STATA Corp, College Station, TX). To account for the complexity of the TDHS design, we applied individual sampling weights, accounted for clusters, and used stratification to produce representative estimates. Descriptive statistics summarized variables; chi-square test compared HIV/AIDS knowledge across participants characteristics. Weighted binary logistic regression assessed factors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Univariate analyses estimated crude odds ratios (COR), and variables with p < 0.05 were included in the multivariable model to obtain adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Multicollineartoy was assessed using correlation matrix and model diagnostics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Sociodemographic characteristics The overall mean age was 29.3 years, 38.1% were aged 15–24 years. Over half (53.3%) had attained primary education and 79.8% were literate. In bivariate analysis, there was significance differences in demographic factors associated with comprehensive knowledge (p < 0.05), except for being visited by community healthcare workers in the past 12 months, sex of household head and the number of household members (Table 1 ). Prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge The overall prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge was 15.9% (95%CI: 15.1–16.8). Only 7.3% responded that sharing food with a person living with HIV cannot transmit the virus; 74.3% mentioned that a healthy-looking person can have HIV; 87.8% reported that HIV cannot be transmitted by a mosquito bite; 78.7% responded that having a single, faithful partner protects against HIV; and 64.9% stated that consistent condom use reduces the risk of HIV infection. Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics and distribution of comprehensive knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania, 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (N = 15,254) Characteristics N (%) Comprehensive knowledge, n (%) p-value No Yes Prevalence of comprehensive knowledge 15.9% (95% CI: 15.1–16.8) Age in years < 0.001 15–24 5810 (38.1) 3387 (58.3) 2423 (41.7) 25–34 4609 (30.2) 4609 (100.0) - 35–49 4835 (31.7) 4835 (100.0) - Mean (± SD) 29.3 (9.8) Marital status < 0.001 Never married 4047 (26.5) 2635 (65.1) 1412 (34.9) Married/Cohabiting 9252 (60.7) 8381 (90.6) 871 (9.4) Previously married 1955 (12.8) 1815 (92.8) 140 (7.2) Education Level < 0.001 No formal education 2450 (16.1) 2327 (95.0) 123 (5.0) Primary 8123 (53.3) 7201 (88.6) 922 (11.4) Secondary/higher 4681 (30.7) 3302 (70.6) 1378 (29.4) Literacy < 0.001 Illiterate 3087 (20.2) 2907 (94.2) 180 (5.8) Literate 12167 (79.8) 9923 (81.6) 2244 (18.4) Wealth Index < 0.001 Poor 5044 (33.1) 4454 (88.3) 590 (11.7) Middle 2880 (18.9) 2399 (83.3) 481 (16.7) Rich 7330 (48.1) 5977 (81.5) 1353 (18.5) Media Exposure < 0.001 No 4690 (30.7) 4169 (88.9) 521 (11.1) Yes 10564 (69.3) 8661 (82.0) 1902 (18.0) Household members 0.221 ≤ 6 10103 (66.2) 8529 (84.4) 1573 (15.6) ≥ 7 5151 (33.8) 4301 (83.5) 850 (16.5) Sex of household head 0.747 Male 10918 (71.6) 9192 (84.2) 1727 (15.8) Female 4336 (28.4) 3639 (83.9) 697 (16.1) Working status < 0.001 Not working 5452 (35.7) 4217 (77.4) 1235 (22.6) Working 9802 (64.3) 8613 (87.9) 1189 (12.1) Internet use < 0.001 No 13072 (85.7) 11094 (84.9) 1978 (15.1) Yes 2182 (14.3) 1736 (79.6) 446 (20.4) Visited Health Facility past 12 months 0.001 No 7167 (47.0) 5939 (82.9) 1228 (17.1) Yes 8087 (53.0) 6891 (85.2) 1196 (14.8) Visited by community health workers in the past 12 months 0.212 No 14781 (96.9) 12421 (84.0) 2360 (16.0) Yes 473 (3.1) 410 (86.7) 63 (13.3) Ever heard sexually transmitted infections < 0.001 No 3336 (21.9) 3000 (90.0) 336 (10.1) Yes 11918 (78.1) 9831 (82.5) 2087 (17.5) Ever tested for HIV < 0.001 No 2973 (19.5) 2185 (73.5) 788 (26.5) Yes 12281 (80.5) 10646 (86.7) 1635 (13.3) Place of residence < 0.001 Urban 5446 (35.7) 4423 (81.2) 1023 (18.8) Rural 9808 (64.3) 8408 (85.7) 1400 (14.3) SD; Standard deviation Factors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge In the adjusted analysis, an increase in age was associated with a lower likelihood of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Conversely, being previously married, secondary or higher education, literate, middle wealth quantile, working, using internet, STIs awareness and ever tested for HIV were associated with high odds of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. (Table 2 ). Table 2 Weighted logistic regression model for factors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania, 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (N = 15,254) Characteristics Crude p-value Adjusted p-value OR (95%CI) OR (95%CI) Age in years 0.80 (0.79–0.81) < 0.001 0.72 (0.71–0.74) < 0.001 Marital status Never married Ref Ref Married/Cohabiting 0.19 (0.17–0.22) < 0.001 1.22 (0.99–1.49) 0.059 Previously married 0.14 (0.11–0.18) < 0.001 1.39 (1.03–1.84) 0.032 Education Level No formal education Ref Ref Primary 2.43 (1.94–3.06) < 0.001 1.25 (0.89–1.75) 0.198 Secondary/higher 7.93 (6.24–10.07) < 0.001 1.98 (1.37–2.86) < 0.001 Literacy Illiterate Ref Ref Literate 3.66 (3.02–4.44) < 0.001 1.44 (1.03–2.01) 0.031 Wealth Index Poor Ref Ref Middle 1.52 (1.29–1.78) < 0.001 1.27 (1.03–1.57) 0.025 Rich 1.71 (1.49–1.96) < 0.001 1.24 (0.97–1.57) 0.086 Media Exposure No Ref Ref Yes 1.76 (1.52–2.02) < 0.001 1.09 (0.90–1.32) 0.368 Sex of household head Male Ref - Female 1.02 (0.91–1.15) 0.747 Working status Not working Ref Ref Working 0.47 (0.42–0.53) < 0.001 1.23 (1.03–1.45) 0.013 Internet use No Ref Ref Yes 1.44 (1.25–1.64) < 0.001 1.23 (1.06–1.53) 0.026 Visited Health Facility in the past 12 months No Ref Ref Yes 0.84 (0.75–0.93) 0.001 1.03 (0.89–1.20) 0.669 Visited by Community healthcare worker in the past 12 months No Ref - Yes 0.81 (0.58–1.13) 0.213 Ever heard Sexually transmitted Infections No Ref Ref Yes 1.89 (1.60–2.23) < 0.001 3.05 (2.45–3.80) < 0.001 Ever tested for HIV No Ref Ref Yes 0.43 (0.37–0.48) < 0.001 2.74 (2.25–3.35) < 0.001 Residence Urban Ref Ref Rural 0.72 (0.64–0.81) < 0.001 0.87 (0.72–1.06) 0.167 Ref; Reference category, OR; Odds ratio, CI; Confidence Intervals Discussion This study found that 15.9% women of reproductive age had a comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Most women (87.8%) correctly identified that HIV cannot be transmitted by mosquito bite, while the lowest proportion (7.3%) correctly stated that HIV cannot be contracted by sharing food with someone who has HIV/AIDS. Additionally, we found that higher educational level, women’s age, literacy, working status, internet use, ever heard STIs and ever tested for HIV were significantly associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of comprehensive knowledge was relatively low compared to other studies in SSA [ 12 – 14 ]. The variations observed in this study compared to prior studies may be attributed to the differences in socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of women across countries, as well as the timing of the DHS. Additionally, the presence of various strategies, policies, interventions and initiatives such as behavior changes programs aimed at enhancing comprehensive HIV knowledge may also explain these differences. Women with higher education level were more likely to have comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Our finding is consistent with previous studies in SSA [ 12 , 14 ]. Women with higher education have better access to accurate information regarding HIV/AIDS than their counterparts. Similarly, literate women exhibited higher odds of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Literate individuals are better equipped to comprehend written health materials or public health campaigns [ 15 ]. Their ability to read and understand health messages facilitates the acquisition of accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge. Increase in age was associated with lower likelihood of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge in contrast to previous studies elsewhere [ 12 – 14 ]. Younger women might have had exposure to more recent and updated school-based education, engagement with modern media and internet platforms, which often disseminate health information [ 16 , 17 ]. Internet use has emerged an increasingly determinant for comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Internet provides an expansive and open source of diverse information on HIV/AIDS from reliable sources, with access to online health forums and education channels [ 18 ]. Our findings underscore the importance of using internet platforms appropriately to disseminate accurate information about HIV/AIDS. Women who are aware of STIs are likely to have received sexual health education that encompasses safer sex practices and HIV transmission [ 19 ]. More importantly, women who have ever tested for HIV typically receive pre and post-test counselling sessions that provide essential and comprehensive information about HIV transmission, prevention which fills them with enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS [ 20 ]. Strengths and limitations of the study The use of nationally and population representative data from the 2022 TDHS, the large sample size, and relatively high response rate improve the generalizability of our findings to a wide population of Tanzanian women of reproductive age. Since the DHS relies on self-reported information, there's a possibility of under or over reporting triggered by recall and socio desirability biases, which could affect the validity of our findings, particularly given the sensitive nature of HIV-related information. Conclusion Our study revealed a low proportion (15.9%) of women of reproductive age in Tanzania with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The findings demonstrate a critical need for targeted interventions including education awareness campaign that enhance HIV/AIDS knowledge among Tanzanian women especially those with lower education levels and older age demographics by utilizing current communication channels and improving HIV testing along with STI awareness. Abbreviations AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AOR Adjusted Odds Ratio ART Antiretroviral therapy CI Confidence Intervals COR Crude Odds Ration DHS Demographic and Health Survey HIV Human immunodeficiency virus SD Standard deviation SSA Sub-Saharan Africa STIs Sexually Transmitted Infections TDHS Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The study is based on the publicly available 2022 TDHS datasets, which are accessible online and have been de-identified. The initial survey was approved by the National Institute of Medical Research Ethics Committee in Tanzania and the ICF Macro Ethics Committee in Calverton, New York. We obtained permission to use the DHS data from MEASURE Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys after submitting a request outlining our data analysis plan. We downloaded the dataset from the DHS Program’s website upon receiving approval. Informed consent was obtained from participants prior to the interviews. All methods were conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declared that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Acknowledgements We thank the DHS program for making the data available for this study and TILAM International for statistical consultation. Authors’ Contribution MJM and EES conceptualized the idea, performed formal analysis. MJM, EES, SAK, JRT, VGM, EDO, TPM, IPM, MHB and AAN supported in results interpretation and reviewed all the subsequent versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Funding Not Applicable. Availability of data and materials The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors without undue reservation. The complete dataset is available at https://dhsprogram.com. But the dataset supporting the conclusion is available with corresponding author and can be shared upon reasonable request. References Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS). Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC). Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) 2016–2017: Final Report. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 2018. National Bureau of Statistics. Tanzania HIV Impact Survey 2022–2023. [Internet]. NBS Tanzania. 2022. Available from: https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/THIS2022-2023/THIS2022-2023_Summary_Sheet.pdf Epidemiological factors associated with. recent HIV infection among newly-diagnosed cases in Singapore, 2013–2017 | BMC Public Health [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 23]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/ 10.1186/s12889-021-10478-5 Teshale AB, Yeshaw Y, Alem AZ, Ayalew HG, Liyew AM, Tessema ZT, et al. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis using the most recent demographic and health survey of each country. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22:130. Agnarson AM, Masanja H, Ekström AM, Eriksen J, Tomson G, Thorson A. Challenges to ART scale-up in a rural district in Tanzania: stigma and distrust among Tanzanian health care workers, people living with HIV and community members. Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15:1000–7. Girls’ participation. in formal education: a case of Maasai pastoralists in Tanzania | Educational Research for Policy and Practice [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 31]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10671-020-09273-7 Nelson Mandela – African Institution of Science and Technology, Mwammenywa PO, Kaijage IA. SF. Towards Enhancing Access of HIV/AIDS Healthcare Information in Tanzania: Is a Mobile Application Platform a Way Forward? Int J Inf Technol Comput Sci. 2018;10:31–8. Sameen S, Lakhdir MPA, Azam SI, Asad N. Evaluating knowledge about HIV and discriminatory attitudes among Pakistani women of reproductive age using 2017–18 Demographic Health Survey data. Sci Rep. 2023;13:17849. Worku MG, Teshale AB, Tesema GA. Prevalence and associated factors of HIV testing among young (15–24) women in eastern Africa: a multilevel analysis of demographic health survey data (2008–2018). Arch Public Health. 2022;80:117. Moyo E, Moyo P, Murewanhema G, Mhango M, Chitungo I, Dzinamarira T. Key populations and Sub-Saharan Africa’s HIV response. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1079990. Ministry of Health [Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health [Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), ICF. Tanzania demographic and health survey 2022 - final report [Internet]. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF. 2023. Available from: https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR382/FR382.pdf Agegnehu CD, Geremew BM, Sisay MM, Muchie KF, Engida ZT, Gudayu TW, et al. Determinants of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS among reproductive age (15–49 years) women in Ethiopia: further analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. AIDS Res Ther. 2020;17:51. Seifu BL, Eshun G, Tesema GA, Kyei-Arthur F. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:619. Teshale AB, Yeshaw Y, Alem AZ, Ayalew HG, Liyew AM, Tessema ZT, et al. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis using the most recent demographic and health survey of each country. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22:130. The effect of HIV educational interventions on HIV-related knowledge. condom use, and HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Public Health | Full Text [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 20]. Available from: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/ 10.1186/s12889-018-6178-y?utm_source=chatgpt.com Kawuki J, Gatasi G, Sserwanja Q, Mukunya D, Musaba MW. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among adolescent girls in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. 2023;23:382. Mandiwa C, Namondwe B, Munthali M. Prevalence and correlates of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years in Malawi: evidence from the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1508. Bujnowska-Fedak MM, Waligóra J, Mastalerz-Migas A. The Internet as a Source of Health Information and Services. In: Pokorski M, editor. Adv Innov Health Sci [Internet]. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019 [cited 2025 May 20]. pp. 1–16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2019_396 Asingwire JM, isiko I, Rombe KF, Mwesigwa A, Ikwara EA, Olot H, et al. Prevalence and determinants of HIV testing-seeking behaviors among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: analysis of the 2022 Demographic and health survey. AIDS Res Ther. 2025;22:14. Kefale B, Damtie Y, Yalew M, Adane B, Arefaynie M. Predictors of Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Among People Aged 15–49 Years in Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in AIDS Research and Therapy → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 02 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 02 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6770709","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":464997412,"identity":"a96d0d0d-ef6d-4767-8c3d-022a004367a6","order_by":0,"name":"Mtoro J. Mtoro","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYNACHoYEBgbmA0CWhAxh1WxwLWwJIC08RGphAGnhMYDoJgR05zcf+/BBxi6Pf/aZz69u1FjwMLAfProBnxazY2zJM2fwJBdLnMvdZp1zDOgwnrS0G/i18Bgz8/AwJzac4d1mnMMG1CLBY0aMlvrE+Wd4nhnn/CNey+HEDWd4mB/nthGlJS2ZcQbP8WLDM2xmzLl9EjxsBP1y+PBhho891XlyZ5gff875VifHz374GF4tYMDYA6bYJMAkQeVg8ANMMn8gTvUoGAWjYBSMNAAA+BlCoA3AKzYAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"TILAM International","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mtoro","middleName":"J.","lastName":"Mtoro","suffix":""},{"id":464997414,"identity":"a5449fd4-4b49-4f08-9605-628224a56f0e","order_by":1,"name":"Elihuruma Eliufoo Stephano","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The University of Dodoma","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elihuruma","middleName":"Eliufoo","lastName":"Stephano","suffix":""},{"id":464997416,"identity":"49f1480f-6ace-4498-b19a-97201692e496","order_by":2,"name":"Sahnun Ally Kessy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Benjamin Mkapa Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sahnun","middleName":"Ally","lastName":"Kessy","suffix":""},{"id":464997418,"identity":"c8115ce5-bf23-4fc3-858b-3b176dd6a20b","order_by":3,"name":"Jovin R. Tibenderana","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"St. Francis University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jovin","middleName":"R.","lastName":"Tibenderana","suffix":""},{"id":464997419,"identity":"4dd9d56b-8c64-40ff-b7a9-75de7ce5f8df","order_by":4,"name":"Victoria Godfrey Majengo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Victoria","middleName":"Godfrey","lastName":"Majengo","suffix":""},{"id":464997421,"identity":"feffaec8-f2fe-486f-9ff9-5fe94a2b5d67","order_by":5,"name":"Erick Donard Oguma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The University of Dodoma","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Erick","middleName":"Donard","lastName":"Oguma","suffix":""},{"id":464997423,"identity":"a73b4148-fb65-4c14-b990-bd7f72421bf7","order_by":6,"name":"Tegemea Patrick Mwalingo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The University of Dodoma","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tegemea","middleName":"Patrick","lastName":"Mwalingo","suffix":""},{"id":464997424,"identity":"07b4c3f4-6f55-4cf4-a7ad-7b942cf7ca40","order_by":7,"name":"Immaculata P. Kessy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"TILAM International","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Immaculata","middleName":"P.","lastName":"Kessy","suffix":""},{"id":464997425,"identity":"658e6206-19bd-4c74-8e4e-a740ff76a389","order_by":8,"name":"Mussa Hassan Bago","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The University of Dodoma","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mussa","middleName":"Hassan","lastName":"Bago","suffix":""},{"id":464997426,"identity":"1eff72a7-9ed7-48e8-a8b4-e1b6ddf549a7","order_by":9,"name":"Azan Abubakar Nyundo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The University of Dodoma","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Azan","middleName":"Abubakar","lastName":"Nyundo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-28 19:23:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-025-00807-8","type":"published","date":"2025-10-28T15:58:44+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":95040535,"identity":"d810fd08-0188-4eac-8dcc-091bf9b5a812","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-03 16:09:33","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1298302,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6770709/v1/37dffcf2-1f37-4d68-8c9c-10935bd71944.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Brief Communication: Understanding Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among Tanzanian Women of Reproductive Age","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eWomen, particularly those of reproductive age, are disproportionately affected with Human deficiency Virus (HIV), exhibiting higher prevalence rates (5.6%) compared to men (3.0%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Recent data from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey indicate persistent geographical and age-related disparities, with regions such as Mbeya, Iringa, and Njombe demonstrating elevated prevalence and new infections [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Previous studies have shown that factors including educational level, age, wealth index and media exposure are linked to acquiring HIV infections and limited knowledge about HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency virus) can also contribute to new HIV infections [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTanzania is classified as a lower-middle-income country where women of reproductive age often encounter socioeconomic challenges that could impact health outcomes. Most women live in rural settings and derive their livelihoods primarily from agriculture and informal sectors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Educational levels vary, with low levels being common in rural settings impacting health literacy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. HIV/AIDS healthcare is primarily provided through the public health service system, and typically ranges from dispensaries, which may have limited infrastructure to more equipped regional hospitals [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. This varied public health landscape, and the prevailing socioeconomic conditions are crucial contextual factors for understanding the health-seeking behaviors and comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among Tanzanian women of reproductive age.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eComprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, encompassing accurate understanding of transmission, prevention, and rejection of misinformation is vital for prevention and treatment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. Women of reproductive age are key to epidemic control, their knowledge directly influences their health behaviors, testing, and treatment adherence, all vital for avoiding vertical transmission and curbing population-level incidence [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. However, evidence from Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicates that comprehensive HIV knowledge among reproductive-aged women remains suboptimal, with disparities by age, education, wealth, and media exposure [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. A recent SSA reported only 38.6% of women had comprehensive knowledge [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. These knowledge gaps hinder testing uptake, risk reduction and adherence, ultimately affecting epidemic control and progress toward the 95-95-95 targets [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Given that knowledge is a modifiable factor, understanding its distribution and determinants can inform the development of tailored interventions in educational programming, policy prioritization, and resource allocation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpatial and demographic variations in recent HIV impact surveys underscores the need for localized analyses to guide targeted interventions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Using the 2022 Tanzania Demographics and Health Survey (TDHS) data, this study examines comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania and identifies associate socio-demographic and behavioral factors. Findings aim to inform polices and program to strength HIV prevention and control.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData source, design, population and sampling\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was an analytical cross-sectional survey that utilized secondary data from the 2022 TDHS, which conducts nationally representative population-based household surveys typically every five years.​ The Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics conducted the survey with the Ministries of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar in collaboration with other stakeholders. The recent TDHS was conducted between 24 February to 21 July 2022 across all regions in Tanzania. The target population for the 2022 TDHS included women of reproductive age (15\u0026ndash;49 years) across the 32 administrative regions in Tanzania. The detailed methodology of the TDHS has been explained elsewhere [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. We used the individual file with 15,254 women.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Variables\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDependent variable\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe outcome variable of the study was comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, defined as a composite measure based on responses to five \u0026lsquo;yes/no\u0026rsquo;: (1) Consistent condom use during sex reduces the risk of HIV infection; (2) Having a single, uninfected, and monogamous partner reduces the risk of HIV; (3) A healthy-looking person can have HIV; (4) HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites; and (5) HIV can be transmitted by sharing food with someone who has AIDS. Women were considered to have comprehensive knowledge if they answered all five questions correctly, responding \u0026ldquo;Yes\u0026rdquo; to questions 1, 2, and 3, and \u0026ldquo;No\u0026rdquo; to questions 4 and 5 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIndependent variables\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe included the following variables based on the available data and literature; women\u0026rsquo;s age, education level, marital status, literacy level, wealth index, media exposures, household member, working status, sex of household head, internet use, visited health facility in the past 12 months, visited by community health worker in the past 12 months, ever tested for HIV, ever heard of Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) and place of residence.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData management and analysis were performed using STATA 18.5 (STATA Corp, College Station, TX). To account for the complexity of the TDHS design, we applied individual sampling weights, accounted for clusters, and used stratification to produce representative estimates. Descriptive statistics summarized variables; chi-square test compared HIV/AIDS knowledge across participants characteristics. Weighted binary logistic regression assessed factors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Univariate analyses estimated crude odds ratios (COR), and variables with p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 were included in the multivariable model to obtain adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Multicollineartoy was assessed using correlation matrix and model diagnostics. Statistical significance was set at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSociodemographic characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall mean age was 29.3 years, 38.1% were aged 15\u0026ndash;24 years. Over half (53.3%) had attained primary education and 79.8% were literate. In bivariate analysis, there was significance differences in demographic factors associated with comprehensive knowledge (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), except for being visited by community healthcare workers in the past 12 months, sex of household head and the number of household members (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge was 15.9% (95%CI: 15.1\u0026ndash;16.8). Only 7.3% responded that sharing food with a person living with HIV cannot transmit the virus; 74.3% mentioned that a healthy-looking person can have HIV; 87.8% reported that HIV cannot be transmitted by a mosquito bite; 78.7% responded that having a single, faithful partner protects against HIV; and 64.9% stated that consistent condom use reduces the risk of HIV infection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSociodemographic characteristics and distribution of comprehensive knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania, 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15,254)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComprehensive knowledge, n (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevalence of comprehensive knowledge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.9% (95% CI: 15.1\u0026ndash;16.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge in years\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5810 (38.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3387 (58.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2423 (41.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4609 (30.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4609 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u0026ndash;49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4835 (31.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4835 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean (\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.3 (9.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever married\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4047 (26.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2635 (65.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1412 (34.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried/Cohabiting\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9252 (60.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8381 (90.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e871 (9.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreviously married\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1955 (12.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1815 (92.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140 (7.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation Level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo formal education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2450 (16.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2327 (95.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e123 (5.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8123 (53.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7201 (88.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e922 (11.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary/higher\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4681 (30.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3302 (70.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1378 (29.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiteracy\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIlliterate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3087 (20.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2907 (94.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180 (5.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiterate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12167 (79.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9923 (81.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2244 (18.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWealth Index\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5044 (33.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4454 (88.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e590 (11.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMiddle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2880 (18.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2399 (83.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e481 (16.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRich\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7330 (48.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5977 (81.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1353 (18.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedia Exposure\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4690 (30.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4169 (88.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e521 (11.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10564 (69.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8661 (82.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1902 (18.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHousehold members\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.221\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10103 (66.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8529 (84.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1573 (15.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5151 (33.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4301 (83.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e850 (16.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSex of household head\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.747\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10918 (71.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9192 (84.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1727 (15.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4336 (28.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3639 (83.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e697 (16.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorking status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot working\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5452 (35.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4217 (77.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1235 (22.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9802 (64.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8613 (87.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1189 (12.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInternet use\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13072 (85.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11094 (84.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1978 (15.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2182 (14.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1736 (79.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e446 (20.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVisited Health Facility past 12 months\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7167 (47.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5939 (82.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1228 (17.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8087 (53.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6891 (85.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1196 (14.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVisited by community health workers in the past 12 months\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.212\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14781 (96.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12421 (84.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2360 (16.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e473 (3.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e410 (86.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63 (13.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver heard sexually transmitted infections\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3336 (21.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3000 (90.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e336 (10.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11918 (78.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9831 (82.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2087 (17.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver tested for HIV\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2973 (19.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2185 (73.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e788 (26.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12281 (80.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10646 (86.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1635 (13.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace of residence\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5446 (35.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4423 (81.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1023 (18.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9808 (64.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8408 (85.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1400 (14.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eSD; Standard deviation\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFactors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the adjusted analysis, an increase in age was associated with a lower likelihood of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Conversely, being previously married, secondary or higher education, literate, middle wealth quantile, working, using internet, STIs awareness and ever tested for HIV were associated with high odds of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeighted logistic regression model for factors associated with comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among reproductive aged women in Tanzania, 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15,254)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCrude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdjusted\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOR (95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOR (95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge in years\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.80 (0.79\u0026ndash;0.81)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72 (0.71\u0026ndash;0.74)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever married\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried/Cohabiting\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.19 (0.17\u0026ndash;0.22)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.22 (0.99\u0026ndash;1.49)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.059\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreviously married\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.14 (0.11\u0026ndash;0.18)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.39 (1.03\u0026ndash;1.84)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.032\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation Level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo formal education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.43 (1.94\u0026ndash;3.06)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25 (0.89\u0026ndash;1.75)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.198\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary/higher\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.93 (6.24\u0026ndash;10.07)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.98 (1.37\u0026ndash;2.86)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiteracy\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIlliterate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiterate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.66 (3.02\u0026ndash;4.44)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.44 (1.03\u0026ndash;2.01)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.031\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWealth Index\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMiddle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.52 (1.29\u0026ndash;1.78)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.27 (1.03\u0026ndash;1.57)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.025\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRich\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.71 (1.49\u0026ndash;1.96)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.24 (0.97\u0026ndash;1.57)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.086\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedia Exposure\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.76 (1.52\u0026ndash;2.02)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.09 (0.90\u0026ndash;1.32)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.368\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSex of household head\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02 (0.91\u0026ndash;1.15)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.747\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorking status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot working\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorking\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47 (0.42\u0026ndash;0.53)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23 (1.03\u0026ndash;1.45)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.013\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInternet use\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.44 (1.25\u0026ndash;1.64)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23 (1.06\u0026ndash;1.53)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.026\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVisited Health Facility in the past 12 months\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84 (0.75\u0026ndash;0.93)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.03 (0.89\u0026ndash;1.20)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.669\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVisited by Community healthcare worker in the past 12 months\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.81 (0.58\u0026ndash;1.13)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.213\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver heard Sexually transmitted Infections\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.89 (1.60\u0026ndash;2.23)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.05 (2.45\u0026ndash;3.80)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver tested for HIV\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.43 (0.37\u0026ndash;0.48)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.74 (2.25\u0026ndash;3.35)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResidence\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72 (0.64\u0026ndash;0.81)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87 (0.72\u0026ndash;1.06)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.167\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRef; Reference category, OR; Odds ratio, CI; Confidence Intervals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study found that 15.9% women of reproductive age had a comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Most women (87.8%) correctly identified that HIV cannot be transmitted by mosquito bite, while the lowest proportion (7.3%) correctly stated that HIV cannot be contracted by sharing food with someone who has HIV/AIDS. Additionally, we found that higher educational level, women\u0026rsquo;s age, literacy, working status, internet use, ever heard STIs and ever tested for HIV were significantly associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of comprehensive knowledge was relatively low compared to other studies in SSA [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. The variations observed in this study compared to prior studies may be attributed to the differences in socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of women across countries, as well as the timing of the DHS. Additionally, the presence of various strategies, policies, interventions and initiatives such as behavior changes programs aimed at enhancing comprehensive HIV knowledge may also explain these differences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWomen with higher education level were more likely to have comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Our finding is consistent with previous studies in SSA [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Women with higher education have better access to accurate information regarding HIV/AIDS than their counterparts. Similarly, literate women exhibited higher odds of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Literate individuals are better equipped to comprehend written health materials or public health campaigns [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Their ability to read and understand health messages facilitates the acquisition of accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge. Increase in age was associated with lower likelihood of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge in contrast to previous studies elsewhere [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Younger women might have had exposure to more recent and updated school-based education, engagement with modern media and internet platforms, which often disseminate health information [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInternet use has emerged an increasingly determinant for comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Internet provides an expansive and open source of diverse information on HIV/AIDS from reliable sources, with access to online health forums and education channels [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Our findings underscore the importance of using internet platforms appropriately to disseminate accurate information about HIV/AIDS. Women who are aware of STIs are likely to have received sexual health education that encompasses safer sex practices and HIV transmission [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. More importantly, women who have ever tested for HIV typically receive pre and post-test counselling sessions that provide essential and comprehensive information about HIV transmission, prevention which fills them with enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStrengths and limitations of the study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe use of nationally and population representative data from the 2022 TDHS, the large sample size, and relatively\u0026ensp;high response rate improve the generalizability of our findings to a wide population of Tanzanian women of reproductive age. Since the DHS relies on self-reported information, there's a possibility of under or over reporting triggered by recall and socio desirability biases, which could affect the validity of our findings, particularly given the sensitive nature of HIV-related information.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur study revealed a low proportion (15.9%) of women of reproductive age in Tanzania with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The findings demonstrate a critical need for targeted interventions including education awareness campaign that enhance HIV/AIDS knowledge among Tanzanian women especially those with lower education levels and older age demographics by utilizing current communication channels and improving HIV testing along with STI awareness.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":" \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"No\" id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eAIDS\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eAcquired immunodeficiency syndrome\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eAOR\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eAdjusted Odds Ratio\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eART\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eAntiretroviral therapy\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eCI\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eConfidence Intervals\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eCOR\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eCrude Odds Ration\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eDHS\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eDemographic and Health Survey\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eHIV\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eHuman immunodeficiency virus\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eSD\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eStandard deviation\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eSSA\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eSub-Saharan Africa\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eSTIs\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eSexually Transmitted Infections\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eTDHS\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"SimplePara\"\u003eTanzania Demographic and Health Survey\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cbr/\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study is based on the publicly available 2022 TDHS datasets, which are accessible online and have been de-identified. The initial survey was approved by the National Institute of Medical Research Ethics Committee in Tanzania and the ICF Macro Ethics Committee in Calverton, New York. We obtained permission to use the DHS data from MEASURE Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys after submitting a request outlining our data analysis plan. We downloaded the dataset from the DHS Program\u0026rsquo;s website upon receiving approval. Informed consent was obtained from participants prior to the interviews. All methods were conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declared that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe thank the DHS program for making the data available for this study and TILAM International for statistical consultation.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; Contribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMJM and EES conceptualized the idea, performed formal analysis. MJM, EES, SAK, JRT, VGM, EDO, TPM, IPM, MHB and AAN \u0026nbsp; supported in results interpretation and reviewed all the subsequent versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot Applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors without undue reservation. The complete dataset is available at https://dhsprogram.com. But the dataset supporting the conclusion is available with corresponding author and can be shared upon reasonable request. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS). Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC). Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) 2016\u0026ndash;2017: Final Report. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 2018.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNational Bureau of Statistics. Tanzania HIV Impact Survey 2022\u0026ndash;2023. [Internet]. NBS Tanzania. 2022. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/THIS2022-2023/THIS2022-2023_Summary_Sheet.pdf\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/THIS2022-2023/THIS2022-2023_Summary_Sheet.pdf\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEpidemiological factors associated with. recent HIV infection among newly-diagnosed cases in Singapore, 2013\u0026ndash;2017 | BMC Public Health [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 23]. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://link.springer.com/article/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://link.springer.com/article/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.1186/s12889-021-10478-5\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12889-021-10478-5\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTeshale AB, Yeshaw Y, Alem AZ, Ayalew HG, Liyew AM, Tessema ZT, et al. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis using the most recent demographic and health survey of each country. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22:130.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAgnarson AM, Masanja H, Ekstr\u0026ouml;m AM, Eriksen J, Tomson G, Thorson A. Challenges to ART scale-up in a rural district in Tanzania: stigma and distrust among Tanzanian health care workers, people living with HIV and community members. Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15:1000\u0026ndash;7.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGirls\u0026rsquo; participation. in formal education: a case of Maasai pastoralists in Tanzania | Educational Research for Policy and Practice [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 31]. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10671-020-09273-7\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10671-020-09273-7\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNelson Mandela \u0026ndash; African Institution of Science and Technology, Mwammenywa PO, Kaijage IA. SF. Towards Enhancing Access of HIV/AIDS Healthcare Information in Tanzania: Is a Mobile Application Platform a Way Forward? Int J Inf Technol Comput Sci. 2018;10:31\u0026ndash;8.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSameen S, Lakhdir MPA, Azam SI, Asad N. Evaluating knowledge about HIV and discriminatory attitudes among Pakistani women of reproductive age using 2017\u0026ndash;18 Demographic Health Survey data. Sci Rep. 2023;13:17849.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorku MG, Teshale AB, Tesema GA. Prevalence and associated factors of HIV testing among young (15\u0026ndash;24) women in eastern Africa: a multilevel analysis of demographic health survey data (2008\u0026ndash;2018). Arch Public Health. 2022;80:117.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMoyo E, Moyo P, Murewanhema G, Mhango M, Chitungo I, Dzinamarira T. Key populations and Sub-Saharan Africa\u0026rsquo;s HIV response. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1079990.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMinistry of Health [Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health [Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), ICF. Tanzania demographic and health survey 2022 - final report [Internet]. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF. 2023. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR382/FR382.pdf\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR382/FR382.pdf\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAgegnehu CD, Geremew BM, Sisay MM, Muchie KF, Engida ZT, Gudayu TW, et al. Determinants of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS among reproductive age (15\u0026ndash;49 years) women in Ethiopia: further analysis of 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. AIDS Res Ther. 2020;17:51.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeifu BL, Eshun G, Tesema GA, Kyei-Arthur F. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:619.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTeshale AB, Yeshaw Y, Alem AZ, Ayalew HG, Liyew AM, Tessema ZT, et al. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis using the most recent demographic and health survey of each country. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22:130.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe effect of HIV educational interventions on HIV-related knowledge. condom use, and HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Public Health | Full Text [Internet]. [cited 2025 May 20]. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.1186/s12889-018-6178-y?utm_source=chatgpt.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12889-018-6178-y?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKawuki J, Gatasi G, Sserwanja Q, Mukunya D, Musaba MW. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among adolescent girls in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. 2023;23:382.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMandiwa C, Namondwe B, Munthali M. Prevalence and correlates of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among adolescent girls and young women aged 15\u0026ndash;24 years in Malawi: evidence from the 2015\u0026ndash;16 Malawi demographic and health survey. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1508.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBujnowska-Fedak MM, Walig\u0026oacute;ra J, Mastalerz-Migas A. The Internet as a Source of Health Information and Services. In: Pokorski M, editor. Adv Innov Health Sci [Internet]. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019 [cited 2025 May 20]. pp. 1\u0026ndash;16. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2019_396\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1007/5584_2019_396\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAsingwire JM, isiko I, Rombe KF, Mwesigwa A, Ikwara EA, Olot H, et al. Prevalence and determinants of HIV testing-seeking behaviors among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: analysis of the 2022 Demographic and health survey. AIDS Res Ther. 2025;22:14.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKefale B, Damtie Y, Yalew M, Adane B, Arefaynie M. \u0026thinsp;Predictors of Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Among People Aged 15\u0026ndash;49 Years in Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"aids-research-and-therapy","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"arty","sideBox":"Learn more about [AIDS Research and Therapy](http://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"12981","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12981/3","title":"AIDS Research and Therapy","twitterHandle":"@BioMedCentral","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Reproductive Aged Women, Tanzania","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eWomen of reproductive age face the greatest burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS is vital for effective prevention. Using 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data, we employed descriptive statistics and weighted binary logistic regression. Only 15.9% of women had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge. Higher knowledge was associated with being previously married, educated, literate, employed, wealth quantile, using internet, sexually transmitted infections awareness, and tested for HIV. Older age was associated with lower odds. Multifaceted interventions are needed, especially for older, less educated women, using diverse communication and health services engagement.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Brief Communication: Understanding Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among Tanzanian Women of Reproductive Age","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-26 04:23:46","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6770709/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-08-06T11:43:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-02T07:48:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"255040548255322075054518903737412776021","date":"2025-07-19T12:21:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-02T13:06:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-02T05:15:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-02T04:22:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"AIDS Research and Therapy","date":"2025-05-31T16:51:30+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"aids-research-and-therapy","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"arty","sideBox":"Learn more about [AIDS Research and Therapy](http://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"12981","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12981/3","title":"AIDS Research and Therapy","twitterHandle":"@BioMedCentral","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"540f6708-609f-42b3-a047-2e26a5a15190","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 26th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-03T16:06:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6770709","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-025-00807-8","journal":{"identity":"aids-research-and-therapy","isVorOnly":false,"title":"AIDS Research and Therapy"},"publishedOn":"2025-10-28 15:58:44","publishedOnDateReadable":"October 28th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-26 04:23:46","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12981-025-00807-8","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-025-00807-8","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6770709","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6770709","identity":"rs-6770709","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}