Comprehensive knowledge, attitude and practice of street adults towards human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in northwest Ethiopia

Type Journal Article - Journal of AIDS and HIV Research
Title Comprehensive knowledge, attitude and practice of street adults towards human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in northwest Ethiopia
Author(s)
Volume 5
Issue 6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 181-187
URL http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1379689233_Megabiaw and Awoke.pdf
Abstract
Street people are prone for many infectious diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
This study assessed comprehensive knowledge, attitude and practice of street adults towards human
immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). A cross-sectional study
was conducted on 325 street adults at two cities using a pretested questionnaire. Comprehensive
knowledge on HIV/AIDS was assessed using five questions, attitude was measured using the Likert
scale and practice by condom use and number of sex partners in the last one year. Descriptive
statistics and bivariate/multiple logistic regressions were performed. The mean age of participants was
30.1± 9.0 standard deviation (SD) years. Majority (96.9%) had ever heard about HIV/AIDS. Main sources
of information were radio (55.7%), neighbors (35.7%) and friends (33.2%). Only 31.4% had
comprehensive knowledge, 23.7% favorable attitude and 27.7% used condom in their recent sexual
intercourse. Almost a third (30.4%) had more than one sex partner in the last one year. Self-perceived
risk of HIV infection was associated with knowledge, attitude and practice. The level of comprehensive
knowledge, attitude and practice were low among street adults especially among those who cannot
read and write. Prevention programs must equip street people with basic HIV/AIDS knowledge for
behavioral change.

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