Gender differences in HIV knowledge among adolescents and young people in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Frontiers in Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Emma Gillette¹  Rachel Vreeman¹  Ashley Chory¹  Grant Callen²  Keosha Bond³  Juddy Wachira⁴  Nadia A. Sam-Agudu⁵ 

[1] Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States;Center for Global Health, Indiana University School of Medicine - Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN, United States;Department of Community Health & Social Medicine, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States;Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States;Department of Media Studies, School of Literature, Language and Media, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa;Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya;School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, MD, United States;Institute for Human Virology, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE), Abuja, Nigeria;School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape-Coast, Ghana;

关键词: HIV;    gender;    knowledge;    low and middle-income countries;    adolescent;   

DOI  :  10.3389/frph.2023.1154395

 received in 2023-01-30, accepted in 2023-06-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesThis review seeks to critically analyze studies assessing gender differences in HIV-related knowledge among adolescents and young people in low- and middle-income countries.MethodsUsing PRISMA guidelines and searching Pubmed and Scopus online databases, the search strategy combined search keywords with Boolean operators: (HIV OR AIDS) AND (knowledge) AND (gender) AND (adolescents). AC and EG conducted the search and independently reviewed all articles in Covidence software; conflicts were resolved by GC. Articles were included if they evaluated differences in HIV knowledge in at least two groups ages 10–24 and were implemented in a low or middle-income country.ResultsThe search resulted in 4,901 articles, of which fifteen studies, implemented in 15 countries, met selection criteria. Twelve evaluated differences in HIV knowledge in school settings; three evaluated participants in clinic settings. Adolescent males consistently scored higher in composite knowledge scores, as well as knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention, attitudes and sexual decision-making.ConclusionWe found gender-based discrepancies between knowledge, perception of risk and HIV prevalence among youth globally, with boys consistently scoring higher in HIV knowledge. However, there is significant evidence that social and cultural contexts render girls at high risk of HIV infection, and the gaps in girls' knowledge and boys' roles in HIV risk must be addressed urgently. Future research should consider interventions that facilitate discussion and HIV knowledge building across genders.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2023 Chory, Gillette, Callen, Wachira, Sam-Agudu, Bond and Vreeman.