C. Ouma * (1), G. Giordana (1), I. Omondi (1), M. Hambayi (1), C. Barkatdaoud (2), R. Azizi (2) (1) World Food Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, (2) World Food Programme, Djibouti Ville, Djibouti
BACKGROUND: The World Food Programme, UNAIDS, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Affairs conducted a study in Djibouti Ville to better understand the relationship between basic education and HIV treatment and care outcomes among people living with HIV and TB patients.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 805 PLHIV included in the analysis from a total of 9 ART and TB clinics. Sampling was based on the probability proportional to size model. Data collection was done by trained social workers and stored in the encrypted WFP cloud system. Descriptive analysis was done for PLHIV including those co-infected with TB. Levels of education and the associated HIV prevention and treatment adherence variables were the outcomes of interest.
RESULTS: A high proportion of PLHIV have no formal education (47.6%; n=383) with 19.0% (n=153), 19.5% (n=157) and 10.1% (n=81) reporting highest level of education as primary (grade 1-5), middle (grade 6-9) and secondary school (grade 10-13) respectively. Only 3.9% (n=31) of PLHIV attended tertiary school (college/university). An inverse linear relationship exists between one's level of education and skipping doses of ARV in the 30 days prior to the study. Out of a total of 251 PLHIV who reported missing doses of ARV medication in the 30 days prior to the study, 57% (n=143) did not have formal education while the lowest proportion was reported in those who had attended university/college (3.6%; n=9). A similar trend was observed with respondents' engagement with multiple sexual partners. The study found that from a total of 275 PLHIV who reported engaging with multiple sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study, 49.8% (n=137) had no formal education.
CONCLUSIONS: An indirect relationship exists between the study participants' level of education and their propensity to engage in risky sexual behaviours and their likelihood of non-adherence to the ARV regime. Literacy coupled with an adequate knowledge of the effects of non-adherence as well as of the risks associated with risky behaviour are among some of the most effective HIV prevention means, preventing the spread of the virus and fostering treatment outcomes.