Factors associated with knowledge among youth attending the teenage center at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Background: There is a high number of new infections among young adults in Uganda. These are highest youth aged 15-24 years. Insufficient knowledge on HIV could be a major reason for these high numbers. There is limited literature on factors associated with HIV knowledge among this age group in central Uganda. This study aimed to assess HIV knowledge and factors associated among youth attending the teenage center at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, Naguru (CUFH). Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among the youth attending the CUFH. A systematic random sampling was used to select 383 participants. An interviewer-administered questionnaire which was modified from a validated HIV-KQ-18 questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were computed with frequencies, means, median, and interquartile ranges. Factors associated with levels of knowledge on HIV were determined by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A P-value of > 0.05 was used as a measure of statistical significance. Results: The study enrolled 383 participants. The level of adequate HIV knowledge was 41.5% having adequate knowledge. The mean age of participants was 19.65 years (SD 2.59). The majority were female 79.9%, not married 67.6%, and identified as christian 74.7%. The most frequently mentioned sources of HIV information were health facilities 47.3%, followed by family 38.1%. Conclusion: The level of adequate HIV knowledge was low. Age, the belief that HIV can be transmitted by witchcraft, and the belief that circumcision offers full protection against HIV were factors associated with the adequate level of HIV knowledge.