Population Institute

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the determinants of knowledge on HIV/AIDS among Bhutanese women using data from the Bhutan Multiple Indicator Survey, a national representative survey covering all 20 districts (Dzongkhags) and 205 sub-districts (Gewogs).

While 84 percent of women have heard about HIV/AIDS, they do not demonstrate a high level of knowledge about it. Knowledge among women on HIV/AIDS using nine questions in the survey shows a mean correct knowledge score of 5.6 out of a total 9.0. Misconceptions are common, where two-thirds of the women believe that one can get infected with HIV from mosquito bites and that a healthy-looking person cannot have AIDS.

Never-married women, those with higher education, better socio-economic status, and from the western region of the country have a higher level of knowledge in HIV/AIDS, while age and place of residence did not prove to be significant determinants of knowledge. The study found that the strongest predictors of knowledge on HIV/AIDS are education and socio-economic status.