Factors Influencing HIV Testing Among Ever-Married Women in Mozambique: Insights from the 2022/23 Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> Mozambique bears a high HIV burden, with low testing uptake among young females. This study analyzes socio-demographic and behavioral factors influencing HIV testing among ever-married women aged 15–49, using data from the 2022/23 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).<bold>Methods</bold> A secondary analysis of the Mozambique DHS 2023 dataset was performed to explore factors associated with HIV testing uptake. Variables including age, education, marital status, geographic location, and socioeconomic indicators were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to identify significant predictors.<bold>Results</bold> The analysis included 13,184 women aged 15–49 years, of whom 67.56% reported having ever been tested for HIV. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age, higher education levels, living with a partner, visiting a health facility within the past 12 months, and daily internet use were significantly associated with higher odds of undergoing HIV testing (P &gt; 0.05). Conversely, residing in rural areas was significantly associated with lower odds of HIV testing (P &lt; 0.05).<bold>Conclusions</bold> Mozambique must prioritize expanding HIV testing in rural areas by enhancing healthcare access and community outreach. Promoting awareness through digital platforms and integrating HIV education into public programs can further improve testing uptake. Strengthening education and healthcare services is vital to achieving better prevention and early treatment outcomes.