Determinants of infectious disease-related knowledge among adolescents in Armenia

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is an important period of life, characterized by increasing level of responsibility and independent decision-making, hence it is crucial to explore the infectious disease (ID) related knowledge, which may affect lifelong healthy behavior and control over own health in adulthood. We assessed the level of knowledge for common IDs and explored associated factors among 15-17 years old adolescents in Armenia. METHODS: We conducted a survey among adolescents from three public and one private high schools from capital Yerevan and an adjacent province in 2023. The instrument included items on measles, HIV, TB, influenza, HPV, and socio-demographics. Summative scores were calculated for each ID knowledge, and the scores were combined for measles, HIV, and TB. Univariate and multivariable regression explored socio-demographics associated with each of the scores. RESULTS: Overall, 368 students completed the survey, most of them being females (64.4%). Nearly 85% have heard about measles and half of them knew that vaccination is the most effective preventive measure (44.5%). About 89%, 78%, and 29% of the adolescents heard about HIV, TB and HPV, respectively, and even few of them identified the correct paths for their transmission and prevention. Almost all (96.5%) heard about influenza, yet 44.1 % reported antibiotics being effective against it. The percent knowledge scores for measles-HIV-TB, influenza, and HPV were 39.7%, 56.3%, and 10.3%, respectively. In the adjusted analysis across all socio-demographics, only the private school type was associated with higher mean score for measles-HIV-TB (p < 0.001), while no differences were found in relation other ID scores. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial lack of awareness about the most common infectious diseases among adolescents in Armenia. Targeted interventions should address the knowledge gaps among adolescents and promote safe infectious disease-related behaviors. KEY MESSAGES: • There is substantial lack of awareness about the most common infectious diseases (measles, HIV, TB, HPV, influenza) among adolescents in Armenia. • Targeted interventions should address the infectious disease knowledge gaps among adolescents and promote safe infectious disease-related behaviors.