Haitas N, Funsani M, Harutyunyan V, Phiri GJ, Vassilopoulou VA; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. ThPeD7632.

MSF Greece, Athens, Greece

Background: This study was conducted to measure knowledge and attitudes on HIV/AIDS and related issues of three different groups that MSF-Greece has been working with in the area of prevention since 2001 in East Dowa district of Malawi. Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 46 questions was distributed to 22 female CSW (Commercial Sex Workers), 20 male GVH (Group Village Headmen) and 23 YC (Youth Club) members. Basic topics of the questionnaire included use of condoms, knowledge on HIV/AIDS and VCT and reasons to get tested, disclosure to one's partner HIV test results and attitudes towards HIV infected people. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Results showed existing differences among three groups: only 30% of GVH have used a condom, 73.9% of YC members and 100% of CSW. 50% of CSW and 43.5% of YC members use a condom every time they have sexual intercourse in order to prevent HIV/STI transmission and pregnancy (30%). 86.1% of CSW report condom use as preventive method among others, but only 38.9% of YC members and 30% of GVH. Abstinence is mainly reported from YC members (69.3%) and GVH (69.3%). Planning for the future was the main reason for all three groups to go for VCT (58.1%) and fear of knowing most important reason not to get tested (32.2%). Stigma was reported in 15.3% cases. Only 26.2% of the total population has gone for VCT and 50.8% claim that condom use makes young people have sexual intercourse (56.5% of the YC members). Signs of hopelessness are shown when 33.8% fear that they will get HIV anyway. Conclusions: It seems that CSW are the group that is more sensitized in condom use, whereas GVH stand on the opposite side, having the most conservative attitude. YC members didn't turn out to be as flexible as expected in accepting safe sex and there is still need to target young population of Dowa district in the behavior change and prevention area.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Condoms, Female
• Female
• Greece
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Interpersonal Relations
• Knowledge
• Malawi
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Prostitution
• Questionnaires
• Safe Sex

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0037189

UI: 102281405

From Meeting Abstracts