78% of women in Ghana display discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. This is according to Ghana Statistical Service’s 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.
Ghana Statistical Service has dedicated two months to engage stakeholders on the outcome and findings of the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey which was conducted from 17th October 20222-14TH January 2023.
The report further revealed that women and men between the ages of 15-49 years who have heard of HIV or AIDS, 61% of them being women were not in favour of children living with HIV being in school with children who were HIV-negative with 56% of men also holding a similar view.
Concerning regional segregation on discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV, the Savannah region topped the chart with a staggering 76.6%, exceeding the national average of 60.8% with the Bono region recording the lowest percentage (56%).
On the number of partners both men and women had been with within the last 12 months under consideration, 9.9% of men admitted to having more than 2 partners with 3.0% admitting the same.
These individuals were between the ages of 15-24 years. 35.2% of men and 23.0% of women revealed having had intercourse with a person who was neither their husband/wife nor lived with these individuals. The report concluded that 95% of men in Ghana had been circumcised.
KEY HIGHLIGHT OF THE REPORT
• 65% of women and 62% of men aged 15-49 have heard of ARVs that treat HIV, while 70% of women and 65% of men know the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be reduced by the mother taking special drugs.
• 78% of women and 72% of men who have heard of HIV have discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV.
• 54% of women and 24% of men have ever been tested for HIV and received the results.
• 95% of men are circumcised.
• 36% of young women and 37% of young men aged 15-24 know about HIV prevention.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Celestina Damoah