A Comparative Analysis of Reproductive Health Knowledge among HIV-positive and HIV-negative Youths in Zimbabwe

Authors

  • Amos Milanzi Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe Author
  • Marvellous Mhloyi Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe Author
  • Stanzia Moyo Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe Author

Keywords:

Reproductive health, comprehensive knowledge, HIV & AIDS, Youths living with HIV

Abstract

The study contributes to the understanding of how youths in Zimbabwe continue to face numerous barriers that hinder their ability to take protective actions against HIV. Previous research has shown that while comprehensive knowledge is improving among both HIV-positive and HIV negative youths in Zimbabwe, the proportions are low. A cross-sectional mixed-method research design was employed in the study. This study used a simple random sampling approach to select respondents. The general youth population was sampled from the general population, while Youths Living with HIV (YLHIV) were sampled from clinic records. This study was conducted in three provinces of Matabeleland South, Harare and Manicaland in Zimbabwe. The study demonstrated low levels of comprehensive knowledge of HIV (14%), with YLHIV more likely to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV (19%), compared to HIV-negative youths (4%). The study findings show low levels of comprehensive knowledge of contraception (19%) among the youth, with YLHIV more likely to have comprehensive knowledge of contraception (22%), compared to HIV negative youths (15%). A logistic regression shows that marital status was a significant factor in comprehensive knowledge of HIV. Divorced youths were 10 times more likely to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV as compared to those who were never married (OR=9.8; 95% CI [(1.93- 49.63)]). Logistic regression analysis by geographic location demonstrated that YLHIV from urban areas were six times more likely to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV compared to youths from rural areas (OR=6.43; 95% CI [(2.71-15.28)]. The study recommends that information and services should be made available to youths to help them understand their sexuality.

Author Biographies

  • Amos Milanzi, Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Amos Milanzi is a Statistician and Demographer by training. He has a DPhil in Social and Behaviral Sciences, specialising in Demography and Population Science, MSc in Population Studies and BSc Honours in Statistics. He is the current chairperson of the Department of Demography Settlement and Development since 2020. He has over 20 years of training experience in Research, Monitoring and Evaluating Reproductive Health and Rights, Social protection, Food, Nutrition and Income Security, Youth Empowerment, Financial Literacy, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Health programmes. He teaches Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics and Demographic Techniques courses at the University of Zimbabwe, Department of Demography, Settlement and Development. He has vast experience in Southern, Eastern and Western Africa.

  • Marvellous Mhloyi, Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Prof M Mhloyi has vast research experience on Reproductive Health Research which includes research on HIV and AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health in particular.    Notably, Prof Mhloyi has been a technical advisor of the World Health Organisation in Reproductive Health Research and Ethical Issues in Research for 15 years, from 1988 to 2003. She has consulted for the following organization: UNFPA, UNDP, ILO, PSI, Family Health International, Plan International, Allan Guttmacher Foundation, Plan International, UNICEF among others. She has undertaken these studies at both national and sub-national levels (see the CV enclosed). She also participated in a SADC regional study.  The studies that she has undertaken cover different sub-populations including adult males and females, adolescents and commercial sex workers.  She designed and sometimes adapted instruments for almost all the studies that she has undertaken.  She has also undertaken the pilots for the respective studies, hired and trained data collectors, supervised data collection, entry and cleaning and has done the report writing and dissemination. In addition, Prof Mhloyi has supervised Masters and DPhil Students’ theses from 1990 to present. The majority of such theses was on Reproductive Health issues of adults and adolescents. She has served in various boards which include inter alia: WHO Task Force of the Scientific and Ethical Review Committee; The Zimbabwe Post and Telecommunications Board of Directors; The Research Council of Zimbabwe; The Social Science Committee of the Research Council of Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education; and The National University of Science and Technology. Professor Mhloyi is a holder of the following academic qualifications: Ph.D. Demography (University of Pennsylvania); M.A. Demography (University of Pennsylvania); B.Sc. Teaching Social Sciences (Geography) in Secondary Schools (West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania); BA, Biblical Studies (Logos Christian College); and, Diploma, Biblical Studies (Hear the Word Ministries, Harare). She is a renowned global, regional and national Demographer. She joined the University of Zimbabwe in 1984. Prof Mhloyi is the Founder of Demography teaching and The Centre for Population Studies at the University of Zimbabwe. She has vast experience in designing curricula for Demography and teaching not only all Demography courses, but also Research Methods Short Courses. She has contributed to policy and programme formulation, implementation and monitoring through research which she undertook at international, regional and national levels. 

  • Stanzia Moyo, Department of Demography Settlement and Development, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Moyo Stanzia is an Associate Professor of Demography. She holds a Ph.D. in Demography and a MSc in Population Studies, qualifications accomplished with the University of Zimbabwe. She is the former Chairperson of the Department of Population Studies and the Department of Demography Settlement and Development in the same institution. Currently, she is Dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, having once served as the Deputy Dean of the same Faculty. She is the Acting Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Board of National Family Planning, a Board member of Population Services Zimbabwe and Senate Chairperson of The Chartered Board of Institute and Risk Management in Zimbabwe. Moyo has vast experience in research, community outreach, innovation, curriculum designing and teaching both in secondary schools and at University levels. Her research interests are in reproductive health (focusing on adolescents, youths, males and females), gender-based violence, morbidity and mortality and demographic techniques. She has provided research and advisory services to international, regional and national organizations such as The Food and Agriculture Organisation, Family and AIDS Caring Trust, UNWOMEN, UNESCO, Allan Guttmacher Foundation, Plan International, International Labour Organisation and African Leadership Centre

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Published

2024-10-03

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 and 2 (2023): LIGHTHOUSE, The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University Journal of Law, Economics and Public Policy

Section

Articles

How to Cite

A Comparative Analysis of Reproductive Health Knowledge among HIV-positive and HIV-negative Youths in Zimbabwe. (2024). Lighthouse: The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University Journal of Law, Economics and Public Policy, 2(1 and 2). http://journals.zegu.ac.zw/index.php/lh/article/view/113

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