Time-related changes in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among followers of various religions in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]

• Published in: F1000 research Vol. 12; p. 460
• Main Authors: Khalid, Amna, Qaisar, Rizwan, Ahmad, Firdos, Hussain, M. Azhar, Karim, Asima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Faculty of 1000 Ltd 2023; F1000 Research Limited
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Data collection; Demography; Education; Eigenvalues; Hindus; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Immune system; Infections; Knowledge; Population; Principal components analysis; Public health; Questionnaires; Religion; Rural populations; Sociodemographics; Surveys; Trends; Variables; Womens health; India; religions; socio-demographic; AIDS; HIV; knowledge
• ISSN: 2046-1402; 2046-1402
• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.133585.2

Background
The public knowledge levels about Human Immunodeficiency-Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been assessed in previous studies; however, time-related trends in association with socio-demographic standards among the followers of major religions in India are not known.
Objectives
We assessed the 2005-06, 2015-16, and 2019-21 demographic and health survey (DHS) data from India to investigate trends in the levels of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Hindus, Muslims, and Christians in relation to standard socio-demographic variables over a period of 16 years.
Methods
The age range of the population was 15-54 years (n=611,821). The HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was assessed by developing a composite index based on ten questions about several aspects of HIV/AIDS, such as the mode of spread. We applied Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests to investigate whether people had heard about HIV/AIDS and their overall HIV knowledge in relation to several socio-demographic standards.
Results
Generally, a higher increase in knowledge level was found between the first and second DHS surveys (2006-2016) as compared to between the second and third DHS surveys (2016-2021). We found the highest increase in the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among Christian women followed by Hindus, whereas Muslims had the least increase over 16 years. Being a female, uneducated, poor, previously married, or having rural residence were associated with the highest increase in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion
Christian women had the highest increase in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge then came Christian men and followers of other religions. We also found the highest increase in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among the poorest, uneducated, and rural residents. Our findings may help formulate public health strategies targeting various less knowledgeable groups to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.