Estimating levels of HIV testing coverage and use in prevention of mother-to-child transmission among women of reproductive age in Zambia

BACKGROUND: Mother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT) still remains a challenge affecting many countries. Globally, an estimated 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2015, over 90% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa through MTCT. In Zambia approximately 500,000 babies are born and 40,000 acquire the infection vertically if there is no intervention annually. This study estimated the HIV testing coverage and associated factors among Zambian women of reproductive age 15–49 years. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on data extracted from the Zambia Demographics and Health Survey [Zambia Demographic and Health Survey. Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Health (MOH), Tropical Diseases Research Centre (TDRC), University of Zambia, and Macro International Inc. 2009. 2014]. Women aged 15–49 years, 15,388 who reported having ever tested for HIV or not comprised the de facto eligible sample. Extracted data comprised women’s demographic characteristics; their full birth history and records of antenatal care for the most recent birth within a 5 year period preceding the survey. A weighted multiple logistic regression model was done to determine factors associated with the odds of HIV testing coverage among women of reproductive age. RESULTS: Out of 15,388 women in the study, 12,413 (81%) reported ever tested for HIV. Of the 6461 women who attended antenatal care (ANC) 6139 (95%) reported ever tested for HIV. Additionally, 6139 (95%) out of 6461 of the women were given information on PMTCT during ANC sessions. Testing coverage was higher among women aged 20–24 years compared to women aged 15–19 years [AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.14–3.84; p = 0.017]. Women with higher socio-economic status had 6.6 times the odds of having ever tested compared to women with lower status [AOR 6.6, 95% CI 3.04–14.14; p < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we have demonstrated that HIV testing coverage is higher among women of reproductive age. HIV testing among women attending ANC is also higher. Older women with higher socio-economic status are more likely to take up HIV testing compared to their young counterparts.