Individual and community level factors associated with discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS among women of reproductive age in three sub-Saharan African countries: evidence from the most recent demographic and health survey (2021/22)

HIV-related stigma and discrimination significantly affects health, and well-being, willingness to be tested for HIV, initiation and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and quality of life. However, the findings of the prior studies revealed that the prevalence of discrimination against people living with HIV is high. Thus, we aimed to assess the magnitude of discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS and associated factors in three sub-Saharan African countries.

The appended and most recent Demographic and Health Survey dataset of three sub-Saharan African countries from 2021 to 2022 was used for data analysis. A total of 56,690 women aged 15–49 years were included in this study as a weighted sample. The determinants of discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS were determined using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Significant factors associated with discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS in the multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model were declared significant at p-values < 0.05. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and confidence interval (CI) were used to interpret the results.

The overall prevalence of discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS was 28.19% (95% CI: 27.74%, 28.64%). In the multivariable analysis, individual level (being young, being an internet user, being tested for HIV, and having comprehensive knowledge about HIV) and community level (being a rural dweller) were factors associated with discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS.

The prevalence of discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS in three sub-Saharan African countries was high. Individual and community-level variables were associated with discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, special consideration should be given to rural dwellers and young adults. In addition, better to strengthen the accessibility of Internet and HIV testing services, and improve HIV-related education to reduce the magnitude of discriminatory attitudes against people living with HIV/AIDS.