A nationwide analysis of men in Ghana has found that 73.1 percent of respondents had never undergone testing for HIV, highlighting widespread gaps in status awareness among the male population. According to data gathered from 7,044 men aged 15 to 59 years, only 26.9 percent reported ever having received an HIV test. The research, published in AIDS Research and Therapy, points to an ongoing public health concern in the country, where individuals living with HIV frequently remain unaware of their infection status, and men undergo screening at lower rates than women, leading to downstream delays in clinical diagnosis and medical management.

The investigation was conducted by researchers Addae Boateng Adu-Gyamfi and Anthony Edward Boakye using cross-sectional microdata from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, accessed via the DHS Program. To reflect the complex sampling architecture of the survey, the team applied specialized survey analysis techniques accounting for sampling weights, regional clusters, and sample strata. Initial sample descriptions and bivariate associations were evaluated using frequency distributions alongside Rao–Scott adjusted chi-square tests, followed by complex-sample multivariable binary logistic regression to evaluate the specific independent associations of internet access, literacy, and sociodemographic variables with never having received an HIV test.

Age emerged as one of the most prominent predictors of never undergoing screening, with younger cohorts displaying substantially higher odds compared to older peers. Men between the ages of 15 and 19 years exhibited the highest likelihood of never having been tested, with an adjusted odds ratio of 15.836 (95% CI: 9.612–26.090, p < 0.001). This association persisted among young adults, with men aged 20 to 24 showing elevated odds (AOR = 4.034; 95% CI: 2.615–6.223; p < 0.001) and those aged 25 to 29 demonstrating similarly increased odds (AOR = 1.787; 95% CI: 1.206–2.649; p = 0.004).

Formal educational attainment and literacy skills also correlated strongly with testing history. Compared to those with higher education, men without formal schooling faced the steepest odds of never being tested (AOR = 6.207; 95% CI: 3.984–9.669; p < 0.001). The odds remained elevated for participants with primary education (AOR = 3.148; 95% CI: 2.076–4.774; p < 0.001) and secondary education (AOR = 2.592; 95% CI: 2.047–3.284; p < 0.001). Reading competency mirrored these patterns: men unable to read at all had higher odds of never having been tested (AOR = 1.534; 95% CI: 1.140–2.064; p = 0.005), as did individuals capable of reading only parts of a sentence (AOR = 1.510; 95% CI: 1.164–1.959; p = 0.002).

Digital engagement demonstrated a distinct association with screening behaviors across the sampled population. Men who reported that they never used the internet had significantly higher odds of never undergoing an HIV test compared to active internet users (AOR = 1.932; 95% CI: 1.582–2.360; p < 0.001).

Geographic disparities were documented across multiple administrative subdivisions of Ghana. When compared to the reference category, higher odds of never being tested were recorded among men residing in the Northern region (AOR = 2.561; 95% CI: 1.612–4.069; p < 0.001), the North East region (AOR = 2.195; 95% CI: 1.352–3.565; p = 0.002), and the Savannah region (AOR = 2.079; 95% CI: 1.186–3.644; p = 0.011). Elevated odds were also identified in Bono East (AOR = 1.731; 95% CI: 1.088–2.754; p = 0.021), Central (AOR = 1.718; 95% CI: 1.055–2.799; p = 0.030), Bono (AOR = 1.708; 95% CI: 1.060–2.761; p = 0.028), and Oti (AOR = 1.589; 95% CI: 1.002–2.519; p < 0.049).

Conversely, certain sociodemographic characteristics were associated with reduced odds of never testing. Men residing in urban centers were significantly less likely to report never having been tested than their rural counterparts (AOR = 0.810; 95% CI: 0.663–0.990; p = 0.039). Religious affiliation also demonstrated significant protective associations: Christian men had reduced odds of never receiving a test (AOR = 0.576; 95% CI: 0.373–0.889; p = 0.013), as did participants identified as Traditionalists or spiritualists (AOR = 0.448; 95% CI: 0.243–0.826; p = 0.010).

Based on these findings, the authors concluded that never having been tested for HIV among Ghanaian men is systematically associated with age, geographic region, place of residence, formal education, religious background, literacy level, and digital access. To address these persistent testing deficits, the researchers emphasize the need for an integrated public health framework that pairs digital health communication and literacy-appropriate messaging with targeted service delivery for younger men and balanced geographic distribution across rural regions.

Subject of Research: Factors associated with never having been tested for HIV among men in Ghana

Article Title: Internet use, literacy, and sociodemographic factors associated with never having been tested for HIV among men in Ghana

Article References: Adu-Gyamfi, A. B., & Boakye, A. E. (2026). Internet use, literacy, and sociodemographic factors associated with never having been tested for HIV among men in Ghana. AIDS Research and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-026-00990-2

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12981-026-00990-2

Keywords: HIV testing, Ghana, Demographic and Health Survey, men's health, internet use, health literacy, epidemiology, public health, binary logistic regression, age disparities, regional disparities, educational attainment, urban-rural health, health communication, digital health, preventive healthcare