Comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS and related factors in Angolans aged between 15 and 49 years

Funding Information: This research was financed by the Multiannual Financial Framework, Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, reference: GHTM–UID/04413/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.A comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS among men and women in Africa is reportedly low. To the best of our knowledge, no studies using any definition of comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS have been conducted in Angola. To address this gap, we aimed to describe the comprehensive knowledge held by individuals aged between 15 and 49 years regarding HIV and AIDS and some associated factors, using the most recent Angolan demographic and health survey (DHS). Using an observational, cross-sectional design, we analyzed data collected from 19,785 individuals aged between 15 and 49 years for the 2016 DHS in Angola. We conducted a logistic regression analysis of descriptive and complex samples to examine the data and to unravel possible factors associated with having a comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS. Almost half of the respondents (47.7%) had a general comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS. Individuals who watched television (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.40; 95% CI: 2.11, 2.72) or read newspapers and magazines (aOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.72, 2.30) more than once a week had higher odds of having a comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS compared to those who did not. Similarly, having completed primary education and above (aOR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.00) or living in urban areas (aOR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.71) increased the likelihood of individuals having a comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS compared to their counterparts. These results reflect inequalities that require further attention at either a research or a political level. Nevertheless, we consider that these results can assist decision-makers in advocating for continuous investment in HIV health literacy and in adapting global solutions to local Angolan contexts.publishersversionpublishe

Building a Health Literacy Indicator from Angola Demographic and Health Survey in 2015/2016

Funding Information: We selected information from 19,785 adults aged 15–49 years old who responded to the survey. Data were collected between October 2015 and March 2016. The survey was conducted in all Angola provinces in Portuguese [25]. The use and dissemination of the data was authorized by the Demographic and Health Surveys program [24]. DHS surveys in Angola are funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by the National Institute of Statistics in Angola (INE) in collaboration with the Angolan Ministry of Health (MINSA). Funding Information: Sa?de Global e Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, reference: UID/04413/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Health literacy is a determinant factor for population health. It is important both for the prevention of health problems and the better management of those problems and unexpected situ-ations that happen. Low health literacy has been consistently associated with poor health outcomes. This study aimed to develop a health literacy indicator for Angola and to analyze pertinent demographic characteristics related to it. Data were obtained from the first Angola Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2015/16; we included 10 questions related to the American National Academy of Medicine definition of health literacy. Using factor analysis, we extracted one i indicator corresponding to four dimensions of health literacy. The indicator was dichotomized, and we used Logistic Regression to estimate factors associated with health literacy level: we obtained data from 19,785 adolescents and adults, aged 15–49 years. The internal consistency of the i indicator was reliable (Cronbach’s α = 0.83). Adjusting for other variables, males with complete secondary education or above and living in urban areas were more likely to have a high level of health literacy. There were substantial differences between the 18 regions. This is the first study evaluating health literacy in Angola using the American National Academy of Medicine definition and a Demographic and Health survey. Our study shows unfavorable results for women, individuals living in rural areas and those less educated.publishersversionpublishe