Wealth-related disparities of comprehensive knowledge of HIV among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia: a decomposition analysis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) remains a major global public health concern, especially in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Insufficient awareness about HIV/AIDS makes women vulnerable to infection. Notably, there is a disparity in the comprehensive HIV knowledge among reproductive-aged women in poorer and wealthier households. However, the contributing factors for wealth-related disparities in comprehensive knowledge of HIV among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia have not been explored. Methods We used the women's record (IR) of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey. Erreygers normalized concentration index and curve were used to analyze the percentage contribution of factors in the comprehensive knowledge of HIV difference across wealth index. The concentration index was decomposed into contributing factors for poor comprehensive knowledge among poorer households. Results A total of 14,599 reproductive-aged women were included in the analysis. The comprehensive knowledge of HIV was 14.75% and 29.33% in the poorest and wealthiest households, respectively. The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) was 0.11 with Standard error = 0.015 ( P value < 0.05). Age (− 0.17%), residence (1.4%), education (26.2%), occupation (1.38%), region (0.61%), wealth index (30.8%), media exposure (13.4%), and internet access (0.67%) significantly contributed to the wealth-related inequalities. Conclusion There was a pro-rich distribution of comprehensive knowledge of HIV among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. Wealth, education, and media exposure were the major contributing factors to the wealth-related inequalities. Policymakers should prioritize media exposure and education, and work to improve the comprehensive knowledge of women in poorer households.