Factors affecting HIV/AIDS in Botswana: the logistic regression analysis

Abstract

This study analytically assesses the factors that influence HIV status in Botswana and their trails in the changing aspects of HIV transmission using the BAIV IV data. With the use of logistic regression analysis, the study carefully assesses the nature of relationships between; cultural variables, demographic variables, socio-economic variables, behavioural variables and HIV infection. The sample extracted from the BAIS IV data comprises of both male and female individuals aged between 15 and 49 years. It was found that the most important factors that affect prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana are demographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables; to be specific- age, education and multiple sexual relationships. The higher age groups (35-49) showed the highest significant (p<0.001) odds ratio compared to the lower age groups (15-34). People with the lower level of education (no education and informal education) are the most affected groups, and the higher education level one progresses to, the lower the likelihood of the HIV infection that individual is likely to have. People with multiple sexual relationships had higher chances of getting infected that the ones with one sexual partners.