Table 1 Socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical characteristics of study participants (N = 330)

Age (years)

 Mean, SD

47.2

10.7

 25–34

40

12.1

 35–44

95

28.8

 45–54

107

32.4

  ≥ 55

88

26.7

Educational level

 No formal education/primary

137

41.5

 JHS/Secondary

164

49.7

 Tertiary

29

8.8

Marital status

 Single

75

22.7

 Married/cohabiting

124

37.6

 Widowed/divorced

131

39.7

Occupation

 Unemployed

68

20.6

 Unskilled work

191

57.9

 Skilled work

71

21.5

Religion

 Christianity

296

89.7

 Islam

34

10.3

Number of pregnancies

 Median, IQR

4

2–5

 0

19

5.76

 1–3

135

40.91

 4–6

134

40.60

  ≥ 7

42

12.72

Number of children

 Median, IQR

3

2–4

 0

35

10.7

 1–3

176

53.3

 4–6

105

31.8

  ≥ 7

14

4.2

Number of Lifetime Sexual partners (N = 328)

 Median, IQR

3

2–3

 1–2

157

47.9

 3–6

168

51.2

  ≥ 7

3

0.9

Age at first sex (326)

 Mean, SD

18.7

3.3

  ≤ 16

95

28.1

 17–25

221

67.8

  ≥ 26

10

3.03

Currently sexually active (last 3 months)

 Yes

182

55.2

 No

148

44.8

Condom use in last 3 months (N = 172)

 Yes

134

77.9

 No

38

22.1

Ever used hormonal contraceptives

 Yes

129

39.1

 No

201

60.9

Current hormonal contraceptive use

 Yes

53

16.1

 No

277

83.9

Menarche (years) (N = 325)

 Mean, SD

15.3

2.0

  ≤ 13

47

14.5

 14–19

267

82.2

  ≥ 20

11

3.3

Still menstruates

 Yes

153

46.4

 No

177

53.6

Currently smokes cigarettes

 Yes

6

1.8

 No

324

98.2

Duration of HIV Diagnosis (years)

 Median, IQR

4.0

1.3–8.0

  < 1

40

12.1

 1–4

142

43.0

 5–10

98

29.7

  > 10

50

15.2

Duration on ART (years)

 Median

46

15–80

  < 1

52

15.8

 1- < 5

160

48.5

 5–10

75

22.7

  > 10

43

13.0

HIV viral load (copies/ml) (N = 272)

 Median

411.5

36–1588

 Target not detected

34

12.5

  < 20

0

0.0

 20–999

154

56.6

  ≥ 1000

84

30.9