Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Agricultural Workers: A Precarious and Vulnerable Workforce in South Africa

Nosimilo Mlangeni
* ORCID logo ,
Sophia Kisting
,
Jonathan Ramodike
,
Molebogeng Malotle
,
Yandisa Sikweyiya
,
Nikki Stuart-Thompson
,
Norman Sebe
,
Christine Du Preez
,
Muzimkhulu Zungu
Version 1 : Received: 28 October 2022 / Approved: 31 October 2022 / Online: 31 October 2022 (01:41:46 CET)

How to cite: Mlangeni, N.; Kisting, S.; Ramodike, J.; Malotle, M.; Sikweyiya, Y.; Stuart-Thompson, N.; Sebe, N.; Du Preez, C.; Zungu, M. HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Agricultural Workers: A Precarious and Vulnerable Workforce in South Africa. Preprints 2022, 2022100460. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0460.v1 Mlangeni, N.; Kisting, S.; Ramodike, J.; Malotle, M.; Sikweyiya, Y.; Stuart-Thompson, N.; Sebe, N.; Du Preez, C.; Zungu, M. HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Agricultural Workers: A Precarious and Vulnerable Workforce in South Africa. Preprints 2022, 2022100460. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0460.v1

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that agricultural works bear a disproportionately higher burden of HIV, which is the highest HIV prevalence ever reported in any working population in South Africa. This study aimed to assess HIV knowledge, attitudes and practices of agricultural workers, as a precarious and vulnerable workforce. A cross-sectional study design was employed. A pre-piloted paper-based questionnaire was administered to a consenting sample of agricultural workers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using stata version 16.1 software, 0.05 level was used as a measure of significance. The majority of agricultural workers had adequate knowledge level (72.1%) regarding HIV/AIDS. Knowledge was significantly associated with having some level of education,) secondary education (AOR: 1.46, 95% CI:1.01-2.12), and post-matric qualification (AOR: 3.07, 95% CI: 1.61-5.83). The attitudes level of workers towards HIV was good (88.1%). Attitude was negatively associated with residing in informal settlements (AOR: 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.97). Majority of participants exhibited poor prevention practices regarding HIV (60.9%). Half of participants reported low condom usage (50.9%) and multiple sexual partners (50.6%). The portrayed risky sexual behavior establishes agricultural workers as an HIV high-risk population. Strategizing non-conventional approaches to HIV prevention and behavior change communication targeting agricultural workers is recommended.

Keywords

Occupation, vulnerable workers, Informal Economy, Occupational Health and Safety challenges, Health and Safety, low wage earners

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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