Geographical variations and factors associated with recent HIV testing prevalence in Ghana: spatial mapping and complex survey analyses of the 2014 demographic and health surveys

Objective To examine the factors associated with recent HIV testing and to develop an HIV testing prevalence surface map using spatial interpolation techniques to identify geographical areas with low and high HIV testing rates in Ghana. Design Secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey. Setting Rural and urban Ghana Participants The study sample comprised 9380 women and 3854 men of 15-49 years. Results We found that 13% of women and 6% of men of Ghana had tested for HIV in the past 12 months. For women, being within the age groups of 15-39 years, being currently married, attainment of post-secondary education, having only one sexual partner and dwelling in certain regions with reference to greater Accra (Volta, Eastern, Upper West and Upper East) were associated with a higher likelihood of HIV testing. For men, being older than 19 years, attainment of post-secondary education and dwelling in the Upper East region with reference to the greater Accra region were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of HIV testing. The surface map further revealed intra-regional level differences in HIV testing estimates. Conclusion Given the results, HIV testing must be expanded with equitable testing resource allocation that target areas within the regions in Ghana with low HIV testing prevalence. Men should be encouraged to be tested for HIV.

Automated summary

The study found that 13% of women and 6% of men in Ghana had tested for HIV in the past 12 months. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of HIV testing for women included age 15-39, being married, having post-secondary education, having only one sexual partner, and living in specific regions. For men, factors included age over 19, having post-secondary education, and living in the Upper East region compared to Greater Accra. The surface map also revealed differences in HIV testing estimates at the intra-regional level.