Determinants of the unmet needs for information, education and communication on sexual health among single youths in Burundi

• Published in: African journal of reproductive health Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 39 - 57
• Main Authors: Bahimana, Adolphe, Jean-Rwenge, Robert Mburano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Benin City Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) 01.08.2023; Women's Health and Action Research Centre
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Analysis; Burundi; Children & youth; Communication; Education; Girls; Health surveys; HIV; HIV testing; Households; Human immunodeficiency virus; Reproductive health; Rwanda; Sexual behavior; Sexual health; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social change; Socialization; STD; Teenagers; Urban areas; Youth; Burundi; Rwanda
• ISSN: 1118-4841; 2141-3606
• DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2023/v27i8.5

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young people aged 15-24 in urban areas is at least 12 times higher among girls than boys in Burundi, while it is twice as high in Rwanda. The gap between the two countries could be narrowed if Burundi's single young people were provided with sufficient information about their sexual health through appropriate channels. The aim of this study was to examine the social and individual "determinants" of unmet needs for sexual health information, education and communication (IEC) among unmarried young boys and girls aged 15-24 in Burundi, using data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Data were analyzed at the bivariate level using cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests, and at the multivariate level using binary logistic regression methods. According to the results of the study, the 'determinants' of the phenomenon studied are, for both sexes, the size of the household, the age of the youths, their level of education, their knowledge of where to take the HIV/AIDS test and their region of residence; only in the case of boys do we find, in addition, the age of the head of the household, his level of education and the adolescents' exposure to the media; similarly, only in the case of girls do we find their economic activity and their perception of HIV/AIDS. Multisectoral IEC actions on sexual health for young people should therefore be strengthened in Burundi. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27 [8]: 39-57). Keywords: HIV/AIDS knowledge, family environment, extra-family environment, media, individual, Burundi, Sub-Saharan Africa Au Burundi, en milieu urbain, la prevalence du VIH/SIDA est, chez les jeunes de 15-24 ans, au moins douze fois plus elevee chez les jeunes filles que chez les jeunes garcons, alors qu'au Rwanda elle est deux fois plus elevee. L'ecart entre les deux pays serait reduit si les jeunes celibataires burundais recevaient suffisamment d'information sur leur sante sexuelle par des canaux appropries. L'objectif de cette etude etait de chercher au Burundi, chez les jeunes garcons et filles celibataires ages de 15-24 ans, les < > sociaux et individuels des Besoins Non Satisfaits (BNS) en Information, Education et Communication (IEC) en sante sexuelle a partir des donnees de l'Enquete Demographique et de Sante (EDS) de 2016. Ces dernieres ont ete analysees, au niveau bivarie, en recourant aux tableaux croises et tests de chi-deux, et, au niveau multivarie, en recourant aux methodes de regression logistique binaire. A en croire les resultats de l'etude, dans les deux sexes, les < > du phenomene etudie sont la taille du menage, l'age du jeune, son niveau d'instruction, sa connaissance de l'endroit ou faire le test de VIH/SIDA et sa region de residence ; seulement, chez les garcons, on retrouve en plus l'age du chef de menage, son niveau d'instruction et l'exposition aux medias ; de meme, seulement, chez les filles, on retrouve leur activite economique et leur perception du VIH/SIDA. Les actions multisectorielles d'IEC en sante sexuelle concernant les jeunes devraient alors etre renforcees au Burundi. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27 [7]: 39-57). Mots-cles: Connaissance du VIH/SIDA, environnement familial, environnement extrafamilial, medias, individu, Burundi, Afrique subsaharienne