Spatial Analysis of Risk Perception of HIV and AIDS Transmission of Women and Policy Implication in Bangladesh

The vulnerability of HIV/AIDS is very high in Bangladesh, although it is a low prevalent country. The rate of HIV infection among street-based sex workers in central Bangladesh is high. In this study, the spatial statistical models are used to investigate the determinants and spatial dependence/neighborhood dependence of the knowledge of women about HIV risk and AIDS Transmission. The binary join matrix and the inverse distance spatial weights matrix specifications are considered in the empirical models to highlight any differences in spatial patterns. The analysis extends the spatial model by allowing spatial dependence to vary across the divisions and regions to identify the priority area(s) and region(s) that are both knowledge on risks perception of HIV and AIDS transmission and economically lagging. The literacy rate of women and men, women literacy rate square, average household size, population density, daily wage rate of agricultural labour, knowledge of environmental pollution of different districts are explanatory variables. These findings have several policy implications those agencies and policy initiatives operating at local and or national levels concerned with tackling the HIV/AIDS related problems that are primarily concerned with sound health and poverty alleviation agenda.