Determinants of voluntary antenatal HIV testing among pregnant women and their spouses in Burkina Faso: An analysis using 2021 DHS data

Abstract

Burkina Faso is experiencing a mixed HIV epidemic. Most new infections occur in heterosexual couples in stable unions. Antenatal care is an opportunity for early HIV testing of pregnant women and their partners with a view to eliminating HIV by 2030. The objective of our study is to analyze the determinants of HIV testing among pregnant women and their spouses in Burkina Faso. This was a secondary analysis of data from the fifth Demographic and Health Survey of Burkina Faso (EDSBF-V) conducted in 2021. The EDSBF-V used a two-stage stratified sampling technique. We used data from 577 pregnant women and their husbands. Associated factors were searched using a modified Poisson regression. The prevalence of screening was 59,4% among pregnant women and 26,0% for their spouses. Residential background, marital status, wealth index, stigmatizing attitudes toward PHAs, length of time living together, age at first sexual intercourse, condom use at last sexual intercourse, and Internet use were significantly associated with HIV testing. Our study shows a low level of screening among pregnant women and their partners. It is essential to strengthen and improve screening and counselling within the couple, and to encourage both partners to undergo screening during antenatal care and premarital check-ups.