Knowledge and discriminatory attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among the women of reproductive age group of Pakistan using the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey(MICS)

Background Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS)has become a major worldwide public health issue,with a focus on developing nations.Despite having a very low HIV prevalence,South Asia faces serious issues with stigma and false information because of a lack of awareness.This stigma highlights significant gaps in popular awareness while also sustaining unfavorable attitudes towards those living with HIV/AIDS.Pakistan is ranked second in South Asia for the rapidly increasing AIDS epidemic.Thorough information and optimistic outlooks are essential for successful HIV/AIDS prevention,control,and treatment.But false beliefs about how HIV/AIDS spreads lead to negative perceptions,which highlights the need to look into how women’s knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS in Pakistan are influenced by sociodemographic traits and autonomy.Methods The purpose of this study is to evaluate Pakistani women’s discriminatory attitudes and level of awareness on HIV/AIDS.This study used data(the women in reproductive age 15-49 years’dataset)from the Pakistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to conduct an analytical cross-sectional analysis.To represent the respondents’attitudes and knowledge towards people living with HIV(PLHIV),two composite variables were developed and composite scored.Binary logistics regression was used to identify predictor variables and chi-square was used for bivariate analysis.Results The findings reveal that almost 90%of Pakistani women have poor knowledge and attitude with HIV/AIDS.In Punjab,72.8%of rural residents have low knowledge,whereas only 20.6%of young individuals(15-<25 years old)show the least amount of ignorance.Education is shown to be crucial,and“Higher”education is associated with superior knowledge.Urban dwellers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa typically have more expertise.Knowledge of HIV is positively correlated with education;those with higher education levels know a lot more(odds ratio[OR]=5.419).Similarly,quintiles with greater incomes show a higher likelihood of knowing about HIV(OR=6.745).The study identifies age,wealth index,place of residence,educational attainment,and exposure to contemporary media as significant predictors influencing HIV knowledge and attitudes among women in these provinces.Conclusion The majority of respondents had negative opinions regarding the virus,and the majority of women in the study knew very little about HIV.Individuals who live in metropolitan areas,have higher incomes,are better educated,are exposed to contemporary media,and are generally more aware of HIV and have more positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS,or PLHIV.The study found that,in comparison to those living in urban environments,those from rural areas with low socioeconomic level have a negative attitude and inadequate understanding.

Survey of HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitude and Determinants in Urban Residents

Objectives: To provide references for HIV/AIDS-re-lated health education strategies through survey onHIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitude and determi-nants of HIV/AIDS awareness. Methods: The study subjects were selected by ran-dom interception in a downtown street of Guangzhoucity on World AIDS Day-December 1,2002. The uni-form questionnaires were finished by means of self-administration. Results: Two hundred questionnaires were distrib-uted and 147 qualified questionnaires were collected.The results showed, the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was 63.3%, and awareness rate oftransmission routes was 76.2%, whilst non-transmis-sion route was 60.5%; the awareness rate of trans-mission was 59.2%; the awareness rate of preventionwas 47.0%; the positive attitude to people living withHIV/AIDS was 65.6%. Multiple variable Logistic re-gression analysis showed the determinants of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge were education level, age,marital status and gender, of which people with highlevel of education, young age and the group of maleand married had better awareness of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Current HIV/AIDS-related knowledgeof urban residents is relativly low, especially for thenon-transmission route, hence further HIV/AIDS-re-lated education should be strengthened, especially fo-cusing on non-transmission route to eliminate dis-crimination over people living with HIV/AIDS.Further, education efforts also should be put on fe-male population, unmarried population and poorly edu-cated population.

HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证相关心脑血管疾病风险因素探析

目的通过检测血脂四项、血管内皮损伤因子、炎症相关因子,并结合前期的基因芯片结果,初步探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)/艾滋病(AIDS)肺脾气虚证相关心脑血管疾病风险因素及机制,为中医药早期干预心脑血管疾病提供依据。方法2020年9月—2020年11月选取河南省某地区确诊的20例HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者作为研究对象,同地区20例HIV抗体阴性作为健康对照组。检测CD_(3)^(+)、CD_(4)^(+)、CD_(8)^(+)计数,并计算CD_(4)^(+)/CD_(8)^(+)比值;检测血脂四项甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C);检测氧化低密度脂蛋白(Ox-LDL)、载脂蛋白A-I(ApoAⅠ)、载脂蛋白A-Ⅱ(ApoAⅡ)、载脂蛋白B(ApoB)、锌-α2-糖蛋白1(AZGP1)、可溶性血栓调节蛋白(sTM)、血管性血友病因子(vWF)、脂联素、瘦素(LEP)、超敏C反应蛋白(Hs-CRP)、单核细胞趋化因子1(MCP-1)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)。结果HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者与健康对照组比较CD_(4)^(+)降低,CD_(4)^(+)/CD_(8)^(+)比值倒置,TC降低,sTM、AZGP1、Ox-LDL、Hs-CRP升高。结论HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者存在炎性反应、血脂异常的表现,罹患心脑血管疾病风险增加。为中医药早期干预心脑血管疾病的发生提供新思路。

Prevalence and risk factors of HIV and syphilis,and knowledge and risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men in Chongqing,China

High HIV prevalence and incidence burdens have been reported in men who have sex with men（MSM）in Chongqing,China.We aimed to estimate the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections（STIs）,to appraise the knowledge and risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS among MSM,and to analyze the possible causes of deviation between behavior and knowledge to make better strategies.We recruited 617 MSM from February to July in 2008 by using a respondent-driven sampling（RDS） method in Chongqing,China.Through the collection of questionnaire-based data and biological testing results from all objects,we launched a crosssectional survey.STATA/SE was used for data analysis by frequency,ANOVA,rank sum test and logistic regression models.MSM with syphilis（OR=4.16,95%CI：2.35-7.33,P〈0.0001） were more likely to be HIV infected.Being a company employee（OR=3.64,95%CI：1.22-10.08,P〈0.0001） and having bought male for sex（OR=3.52,95%CI：1.10-11.32,P〈0.034） were associated with a higher probability of syphilis.MSM with younger age,higher education and greater monthly income had a higher mean knowledge score.MSM who had HIV testing had a higher mean knowledge score than those who never had.Students,venues for finding sex partners by Internet and homosexuals in MSM had a higher mean knowledge score compared to other occupations,venues for finding sex partners and sexual orientation.There is an urgent need for delivery of barrier and biomedical interventions with coordinated behavioral and structural strategies to improve the effect of HIV interventions among MSM.

Knowledge,attitude,beliefs and practices in HIV/AIDS in India:identifying the gender and rural-urban differences

Objective:To promote the use of preventive measures and raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS in India.Methods:Data from the population-based NFHS-3 survey 2005-06 was used.In this study,information collected on 87 961 women aged 15-49 years and 44 717 men aged 15-54 years was used in the final analysis.The data collected was stratified by gender and place of residence. Analyses of the variables related to the outcomes i.e.knowledge,attitude,belief and practices, was conducted using Chi-square test to calculate significant differences among proportions of categorical variables.Results:We found that knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention was low among women and rural residents.Most of the respondents had a non-discriminatory attitude towards HIV positives and majority agreed that children should be educated on HIV/ AIDS.The use of condoms and proportion of respondents who had undergone HIV testing was found to be significantly low.We found a significant gap in the beliefs regarding ways to avoid HIV.Conclusions:There are significant gender and urban-rural differentials in India in terms of knowledge,attitude,beliefs and practices in HIV/AIDS.Information dissemination in India should be designed in a way that not only raises the level of awareness but also result in behavioral change.

HIV and AIDS related knowledge, beliefs and attitudes among rural communities hard to reach in Sudan

Background and Objective: There is a rising concern about Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related knowledge in rural communities of Sudan. This study focuses on determining the extend of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about HIV/ AIDS among rural communities difficult to access in the six States of Sudan. Subjects and Methods: Six thousand and one hundred twenty five respondents were interviewed through the method of house-to-house visits. A structured questionnaire was administered by research assistants recruited from the Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum University during a rural residency campaign in six states of Central, Eastern and Northern Sudan during 2008/2009. Results: Of the total interviewees, 48% were aware of the HIV/AIDS risk;46% reported to have good health seeking behaviors for HIV/AIDS. 54.4% of women reported to have better knowledge about the disease than men (45.6%). 38% (2005) had not heard of safety use of condom whereas 16% (320) had used it. Logistic regression revealed that 5.3% of knowledge about the disease was explained by gender, education and religion adjusted over age of the respondents. Conclusions: Mass media were the most common source of information about the existent risk of HIV/AIDS in rural communities. These findings could assist Sudanese National Aids Programme (SNAP), healthcare providers and policymakers to develop informative materials and health education programs to educate rural community is about the risk of HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者的临床特点

目的总结HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者的临床特点。方法选取53例HIV抗体阳性合并肝损伤患者作为研究对象,根据肝脏组织病理结果分为病毒性肝炎组(n=27)、肝细胞肝癌组(n=15)和肝脏弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤组(n=11)。比较三组患者的临床症状和腹部CT影像学特征,以及肝脏组织病理学和免疫表型。结果三组在消瘦、发热、上腹痛、浅表淋巴结肿大、丙氨酸转氨酶升高、碱性磷酸酶升高、甲胎蛋白升高方面差异均有统计学意义;三组在多发结节、单发结节、病灶不均匀强化、病灶轻度强化、病灶重度强化方面差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。病毒性肝炎组镜下见肝小叶结构破坏,肝细胞肝癌组镜下见凝固性坏死组织,弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤组镜下见肝小叶结构广泛破坏和星空现象。结论不同类型HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者临床症状、实验室检查结果、腹部CT影像学特征有一定差异,但其较难区分肝细胞癌和弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤,两者鉴别诊断需借助肝脏组织病理学和免疫表型方法。

自噬相关基因在HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证中的表达及意义

目的探讨自噬相关基因在人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)/艾滋病(acquired immune deficiency syndrome,AIDS)肺脾气虚证中的表达及意义。方法选取河南驻马店市20例HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者作为研究对象,同地区20例健康人为对照,HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者用益艾康胶囊进行干预治疗。采用基因芯片技术,检测分析两组人群外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC)中自噬相关基因的表达。结果HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证组患者中DDIT4、IRS2、CXCR4表达下调,PDPK1表达上调,经益艾康治疗后差异基因发生转归,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。应用KEGG分析发现DDIT4、CXCR4、PDPK1、IRS2与磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin,PI3K/PKB,又称Akt/mTOR)信号通路相关。结论HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证人群中自噬相关基因差异表达,益艾康可能通过调节DDIT4、CXCR4、IRS2的表达影响HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者的自噬过程。

武汉市1994~2022年HIV感染者/AIDS患者的生存时间及其影响因素

目的分析武汉市1994~2022年HIV感染者/AIDS患者(HIV/AIDS)生存时间及其影响因素,为进一步制定防治策略提供依据。方法收集国家艾滋病综合防治信息系统中武汉市1994~2022年直报的常住HIV/AIDS流行病学调查和抗病毒治疗数据,采用寿命表法、Cox比例风险回归模型对生存时间及其影响因素进行分析。结果纳入研究的8954例HIV/AIDS共随访47245.4人年,全死因死亡1078例,中位生存时间22.3年;第1、5、10、15、20年生存率分别为92.9%、88.5%、83.5%、78.7%、73.8%;Cox比例风险回归模型分析结果显示,未治疗、男性、较大年龄、无职业、低文化程度、本地户籍、异性性行为传播及注射吸毒传播、医疗机构检测发现及较低CD4基线水平是影响HIV/AIDS生存时间的危险因素,未治疗患者死亡风险为已治疗患者的13.979倍(95%CI:11.883~16.446),无职业患者死亡风险为有职业患者的1.140倍(95%CI:1.004~1.295),本地患者死亡风险是流动人口1.682倍(95%CI:1.415~2.000),医疗机构检测发现的患者死亡风险是自愿咨询检测患者的1.823倍(95%CI:1.421~2.339)。结论应针对50岁及以上、无职业、低文化程度、医疗机构检测发现及低CD4基线水平等危险因素,开展宣传教育提升大众对艾滋病的科学认识,并通过医防协同、社会组织参与等方式促进早检测、早治疗;充分利用HIV/AIDS人群健康大数据,形成多维度全生命周期健康档案,针对不同个体提供包括心理干预在内的精准医疗,延长生存时间和提高生活质量是今后努力的方向。

基于Bayes时空模型分析HIV/AIDS晚发现的时空分布特征及其影响因素

【目的】旨在分析兰州市HIV/AIDS晚发现的时空聚集性特征及相关影响因素,明确兰州市HIV/AIDS晚发现高风险地区和时间趋势,为兰州市因地制宜地制定HIV/AIDS防治策略措施提供参考依据。【方法】选择兰州市2011-2018年间新报告的成年HIV/AIDS病例作为研究对象,研究中所需的数据资料来自兰州市疾病预防控制中心和兰州市统计年鉴。采用Bayes时空模型分析HIV/AIDS晚发现相对风险(RR)的时空分布特征及其影响因素。【结果】2011-2018年间兰州市新报告的HIV/AIDS病例共计1984例,其中HIV/AIDS晚发现者有982例(49.5%),平均年龄为39.67岁,男性占90.9%。老年人和女性HIV/AIDS病例中晚发现的比例更高;城关区(51.1%)、安宁区(50.3%)和榆中县(51.9%)具有高于平均水平的HIV/AIDS晚发现比例;2011-2018年间兰州市总体的晚发现比例呈波动上升趋势。Bayes时空模型分析结果显示,兰州市HIV/AIDS晚发现风险在2011-2015年间波动变化,而在2015年后迅速上升,其RR(95%CI)从1.01(0.84,1.23)上升到1.11(0.77,1.97);红古区和三个县的晚发现风险变化趋势与兰州市的总体变化趋势相似,而城关区和七里河区的晚发现风险呈下降趋势;晚发现相对风险大于1的区县包括:永登县(RR=1.07,95%CI:0.55,1.96)、西固区(RR=1.04,95%CI:0.67,1.49)、城关区(RR=2.41,95%CI:0.85,6.16)和七里河区(RR=2.03,95%CI:1.10,3.27)。冷热点分析结果显示城关区和七里河区为热点区。影响因素分析结果显示,随着人均GDP(RR=0.65,95%CI:0.35,0.90)和HIV/AIDS病例中的男性比例(RR=0.53,95%CI:0.19,0.92)的增高,HIV/AIDS晚发现的相对风险越低;而人口密度(RR=1.35,95%CI:1.01,1.81)越大,晚发现风险越高。【结论】兰州市的HIV/AIDS晚发现风险呈上升趋势,并且存在明显的地区差异特征;人均GDP、HIV/AIDS中男性比例和人口密度是HIV/AIDS晚发现的影响因素。因此,对于晚发现风险高和存在相关风险因素的区县,应重视并制定有针对性的HIV筛查和防治服务,降低HIV/AIDS晚发现比例和风险。

宁夏50岁及以上HIV/AIDS患者流行病学特征分析

目的分析宁夏50岁及以上HIV/AIDS患者的相关特征,为艾滋病防控政策制定提供依据。方法数据来源于中国疾病预防控制信息系统,选取2015-2022年报告中年龄≥50岁的病例,应用SPSS 21.0软件进行统计分析。结果宁夏报告HIV/AIDS患者中≥50岁所占比例从2015年的14.8%上升至2022年31.3%(P<0.05)。2015-2022年共报告≥50岁HIV/AIDS患者643例,其中男性494例(76.8%)、农民296例(46.0%)、已婚456例(70.9%)、小学及以下文化程度314例(48.8%),本省582例(90.5%);传播途径以异性传播为主(79.8%);发现方式以医疗机构检测为主(75.3%);首次CD4细胞计数<350个/μl占33.4%。男性以商业异性性传播为主(46.8%),同性传播占一定比例(18.8%);随着年龄增加离异或丧偶者占比增加,商业异性性传播占比也增加。女性以配偶阳性传播(46.0%)和非婚非商业异性性行为(44.6%)为主;已婚有配偶者配偶阳性传播占比较高(54.7%),离异或丧偶者非婚非商业传播占比较高(65.6%)。全死因报告死亡比例为5.1%,晚发现比例为30.5%。结论2015-2022年宁夏报告50岁及以上HIV/AIDS患者占比逐年增加,人群艾滋病传播方式多样,感染风险持续存在,应加强艾滋病防治知识宣传教育和配偶告知,加大主动检测力度,减少新发感染和二代传播。

广州市海珠区HIV/AIDS患者抑郁、焦虑和社会支持状况相关分析

目的了解广州市海珠区人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染者/艾滋病(AIDS)患者(简称HIV/AIDS)抑郁、焦虑和社会支持现状及相关因素,为群体AIDS的防治工作提供参考。方法采用横断面研究方法,选取2019年10月至2022年6月广州市海珠区HIV/AIDS患者363例为研究对象进行问卷调查。使用自行设计的问卷,收集其人口学、抑郁、焦虑、社会支持、性行为等信息,分析HIV/AIDS患者抑郁、焦虑和社会支持状况。采用独立样本t检验、方差分析、秩和检验。结果本研究共调查HIV/AIDS患者363例,年龄(39.38±11.94)岁,男性占70.25%(255/363)、已婚占46.83%(170/363)、初中文化程度占36.91%(134/363)、工人占30.03%(109/363)。HIV/AIDS患者抑郁自评总分为(52.67±7.84)分,45.07%(160/355)的患者存在抑郁情绪,其中轻度居多[37.18%(132/355)];焦虑自评总分为(51.84±6.64)分,主要为轻度焦虑[47.92%(173/361)]。HIV/AIDS患者社会支持总分为(22.87±7.79)分,其中客观支持得分为(6.45±3.00)分,主观支持得分为(16.42±4.79)分,对支持的利用度得分为(5.74±1.84)分。结论广州市海珠区HIV/AIDS患者存在部分心理健康问题,社会支持普遍较低,应加强该人群的心理健康辅导,增加对该人群的社会支持,尤其是客观支持和主观支持。

HIV/AIDS患者肠内营养治疗喂养不耐受发生风险预测模型的构建与验证

目的调查HIV/AIDS患者肠内营养治疗喂养不耐受的影响因素,建立列线图预测模型并进行验证。方法回顾性分析2015年1月1日至2021年9月30日南宁市第四人民医院收治的HIV/AIDS住院患者临床资料,通过二分类Logistic回归模型,探索HIV/AIDS患者肠内营养治疗喂养不耐受的危险因素,构建列线图预测模型并验证评价。结果共纳入174例HIV/AIDS患者,其中76例HIV/AIDS患者发生早期肠内营养喂养不耐受(43.68%)。多因素分析显示,平均动脉压≤80 mmHg[OR=2.822,95%CI(1.267,6.287)]、急性生理学与慢性健康状况评分Ⅱ>15分[OR=5.625,95%CI(1.435,22.048)]、机械通气应用[OR=5.459,95%CI(2.046,14.564)]、高效抗反转录病毒治疗[OR=2.428,95%CI(1.118,5.275)]、肌松剂应用[OR=3.833,95%CI(1.758,8.357)]、CD4^(+)T细胞计数≤200个·μL^(-1)[OR=3.785,95%CI(1.126,12.724)]、抗生素使用数量>2种[OR=2.365,95%CI(1.039,5.384)]是HIV/AIDS患者肠内营养治疗发生喂养不耐受的影响因素。列线图预测模型AUC值为0.849[95%CI(0.794,0.905)],最大约登指数为0.555时,最佳临界值为0.331,灵敏度为88.16%,特异度为67.35%;校准曲线、决策曲线评价模型具有较好的一致性及获益性。结论本研究构建的HIV/AIDS患者肠内营养治疗喂养不耐受风险预测模型可为医护人员快速识别HIV/AIDS患者喂养不耐受发生风险、及时采取预防性护理措施提供参考依据。

Differences of HIV/AIDS Related Knowledge,Attitudes and Practices Between Commercial Sex Workers and Their Clients

Objective: To compare the HIV/AIDS related knowledge,attitudes and pratices (KAP) among the commercial sex workers (CSWs) with that of their clients in Shenzhen. Methods: A total of 124 female CSWs and 155 men,detained for selling or purchasing sexual services, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results: CSWs scored higher than their clients on AIDS/HIV knowledge scores, though the difference was not significant and both groups only scored near 50%. ""Almost always""condom use rates were significantly higher for CSWs. Most of the women but fewer men knew condom use could prevent HIV/AIDS infection. The main reason for not using condoms among the women was the unwillingness of their customers. A higher proportion of the CSWs (9.7%) than men (2.6%) had ever used illegal drugs. The mean age of first sexual intercourse (18.2±2.1) and first commercial sex (20.2±3.9)among the CSWs were lower than that of the men (22.2±0.3and 27.1 ± 0.6, respectively). Conclusion: New health education programs promoting condom use should be developed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly among men. CSWs and clients are high-risk groups for HIV/AIDS infection and transmission.

Knowledge Level about HIV/AIDS among Reproductive Men in Five Counties in China

To understand the HIV/IDS knowledge level and its influential factors among reproductive men in China so as to provide scientific evidence for preventive measures. Methods Cross-sectional survey, system random sample and constructed questionnaire were used in this study. There were 1 285 male subjects who had filled in anon）,mous questionnaires. Results There were significant differences on the HIV/IDS knowledge level in different counties and different demographic characteristic people. Major inJluential factors inchtded area, urban/rural, marriage, educational level, age, consultation about HIV/AIDS. Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the training of HIV/AIDS knowledge among reproductive men.

Assessment of the Level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice with Regard to Care of People Living with HIV/AIDS among Nursing and Midwifery Students in Fako, Cameroon

Due to the chronic shortage of health personnel, nurses and midwives now play a fundamental role in the care and treatment of people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLHIV) in Cameroon. This study was therefore designed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice with regard to care of PLHIV among nursing and midwifery students in Fako division of Cameroon. A survey was performed between May and July 2015, among 227 nursing and midwifery students (in their second to final year of study), selected from 8 government accredited training institutions in Fako division of Cameroon. An anonymous self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The Pearson’s chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for possible confounders were all performed as part of the statistical analyses. The cutoff of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Nursing and midwifery students had a moderate level of HIV/AIDS knowledge (average score of 7.02 on a scale of 11). Attitude towards PLHIV was generally positive (68.7%) but there were some misconceptions and prejudice about PLHIV, with considerable stigmatization (31.3%), unwillingness to share a room with someone infected with HIV (27.7%), and unwillingness to work on PLHIV (23.8%). Good HIV/AIDS knowledge was observed to be the sole independent predictor (p = 0.004) of positive attitude towards PLHIV. Fur-thermore the confidence of the respondents regarding care of PLHIV was generally moderate. Our results suggest the need for the development of a more appropriate education program in nursing and midwifery institutions in Fako division to reduce the discrepancies between the general knowledge, attitude and practice regarding care of PLHIV.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS of Sudanese and Bantu Somali immigrant women living in Omaha, Nebraska

A needs assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS prevention was conducted among 100 Sudanese and Bantu Somali women immigrants aged 19 years and older, recruited through a community organization between April and July 2006. Information was collected by interview using interpreters to administer a 60-item test and a 116-item questionnaire that had been translated into Nuer and Arabic. Women in this study had low levels of education, poor knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention and safer sex practices, and poor attitudes to HIV/AIDS. They believe that HIV/AIDS is a punishment from God, HIV-positive people should be separated from society, carrying a condom indicates having loose morals, women should not experience sexual pleasure, and men should decide when and how to have sexual intercourse. Education, gender, and cultural beliefs are critical in the spread of HIV. Efforts to educate immigrant and displaced populations, particularly women, are essential.

An Assessment of Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Slum and Non-Slum Populations in Delhi, India

In order to design appropriate HIV prevention programs, it is important to examine the perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and methods of preventive. This article explores comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among women and men in slum and non-slum areas in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Data were drawn from the National Family Health Survey, 2005-06 (NFHS-3). The sample included 3096 women aged 15 - 49 years and 1321 men aged 15 - 54 years. Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between the study variables and the background characteristics of the slum and non-slum populations. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods was significantly lower among women and men in slum areas as compared with non-slum areas. Compared to men, women had less comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods in slum and non-slum areas, even after controlling for various demographic and socio-economic and exposure variables. Findings indicate that comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention methods is low among women in slum areas. Interventions are needed to build knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention methods in this vulnerable group. Strategies to build awareness of HIV/AIDS could include mass media campaigns HIV/AIDS, and information, education and communication programs (IEC) on HIV/AIDS in slum areas.

Knowledge about HIV and AIDS among Young Women

HIV and AIDS are a major health concern among women worldwide. It is important that women especially youths are educated about HIV and AIDS because they represent a window of opportunity for reversing HIV rates if effective prevention programs can reach them before they engage in risky sexual behaviour. Women are more vulnerable to HIV infection than men and play a central role in the concept of the family, in nurturing, protecting, and caring for the family. The aim of the study was to explore HIV and AIDS knowledge among young women. A qualitative exploratory approach using focus group discussions was used and content analysis was used to interpret the data. A total of 8 focus group discussions were conducted two study sites intervention and control site. The analysis revealed 6 themes namely definition of HIV and AIDS, seriousness of HIV and AIDS in the community, signs and symptoms, transmission of HIV, cure for HIV and AIDS and prevention. The findings showed that some participants had knowledge deficit on HIV and AIDS, therefore continued community sensitisation is essential.

HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge among Secondary School Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aim of the Study: HIV/AIDS is best viewed as a major epidemic which poses serious challenges to mankind on a global scale. The aim of this study was to assess the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among secondary school students in Bangladesh and investigate the association between secondary school students’ socio-demographic characteristics and their level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Methods: Following multistage random sampling technique, a total of 384 students aged 11-17 years were sampled from eight secondary schools and interviewed through a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done at three stages including descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The findings of the study revealed that more than half (55.26%) of the students were above 14 years of age and their ages ranged from 11 to 17 years. This study also found that around three-fourths of the students (75.78%) watched television. With regard to knowledge, this study demonstrated that around two-fifths of the students (36.98%) had very good knowledge about HIV/AIDS and their main sources of HIV/AIDS information were television, newspaper, radio, textbooks, and teachers. The bivariate results of the study indicated that students’ age, gender, type of school, household income, fathers’ and mothers’ literacy, and watching television were significantly associated with level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. In addition, students’ age, mothers’ literacy, and watching television were found as the significant predictors of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Watching television was documented as the best single predictor. Conclusion: The results of the study strengthen the assumption that there is an influence of students’ socio-demographic characteristics upon their knowledge about HIV/ AIDS. Moreover, this study suggests that more information on HIV/AIDS should be included in the textbooks of secondary school students in Bangladesh to enhance their knowledge about the taboo subject.