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Abstract Introduction/objective: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) -HIV included- are a major problem in Latin America, mainly in Colombia. In 2021, 17647 cases were reported, which compared to the previous year showed an increase of 29.7%. The main aim of this study was to assess the knowledge regarding HIV and other STIs among the adolescent population in Colombia. Method: A total of 2012 Colombian adolescents between 12-19 years of age participated in this study. The HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Knowledge Scale (KSI), a self-report measure, was administered. Results: The results showed moderate to low general knowledge (M = 9.90, SD = 4.64) regarding HIV and other STIs. Adolescents did not know if a tongue-kiss led to an HIV infection (75%), or whether both the vaginal ring and the IUD were effective methods for preventing HIV/AIDS (82%). Results showed better scores in knowledge regarding HIV transmission (84%), HIV testing (66%), and condom use to prevent HIV infection (71%). Conclusions: Significant differences were observed in HIV/STIs knowledge between both sexes, but the effect magnitudes were small. Thus, these differences were neglected. This study contributes to understanding the state of knowledge and strengthening prevention strategies of professionals linked to the field of quality of life, education, and sexual healthcare in Colombia.
Resumen Introducción/objetivo: Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) y el VIH son un gran desafío en América Latina, principalmente en Colombia. Para el 2021 se reportaron 17 647 casos, que comparados con el 2019 muestran un incremento del 29.7 %. El objetivo principal de este artículo fue evaluar el conocimiento sobre el VIH y otras ITS en la población adolescente de Colombia. Método: En este estudio participaron un total de 2012 adolescentes colombianos con edades entre los 12 y los 19 años. Se administró la Escala de Conocimientos sobre el VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual (KSI) y una medida de autoinforme. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron un conocimiento general de moderado a bajo (M = 9.90, SD = 4.64) sobre el VIH y otras ITS. Las adolescentes no sabían si un beso con lengua conducía a una infección por el VIH (75 %) o si tanto el anillo vaginal como el DIU eran métodos efectivos para prevenir el VIH/SIDA (82 %). Los resultados mostraron mejores puntuaciones en conocimientos sobre la transmisión del VIH (84 %), pruebas de detección del VIH (66 %) y uso de preservativos para prevenir la infección por el VIH (71 %). Conclusiones: Se observaron diferencias significativas en el conocimiento del VIH/ ITS entre ambos sexos, pero los tamaños del efecto fueron pequeños. Por tanto, estas diferencias fueron despreciadas. Este estudio contribuye a comprender el estado del conocimiento y a fortalecer las estrategias de prevención que realizan los profesionales vinculados al campo de la calidad de vida, la educación y la salud sexual en Colombia.
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Objective@#To understand the AIDS awareness and related factors as well as the demands for AIDS-related health education programs, among first-grade students from three senior high schools in Tianjin.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study using both stratified cluster and convenient sampling methods was conducted. Anonymous questionnaires including social demographic characteristics, AIDS-related knowledge and needs for AIDS health education were distributed to the first-grade students from two general middle schools and one vocational senior middle school in Tianjin.@*Results@#A total of 1 082 students were responding to the questionnaires. Among them, the overall awareness rates of AIDS-related knowledge were 34.3%(371/1 082), 71.9%(778/1 082) of the students had received knowledge about AIDS and 59.4% (643/1 082) of the students had received knowledge about sexual health in the past, from the three schools. There appeared statistical differences among the two types of schools. 7.0% (76/1 082) of the students reported having had sexual behaviors. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, in vocational senior middle school, the awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was lower (compared with general middle school, OR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.29-0.59) and in the following items, including no need in receiving safe sex health knowledge (compared with needs of safe sex health knowledge, OR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.43-0.91), no interests in reading AIDS-related health education materials (compared with attention to AIDS health education materials, OR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.30-0.56), not aware of safe sex behavior (compared with aware of safe sex behavior, OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.39-0.77), not aware of correct condom use, compared with aware of correct condom use (OR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.24-0.46).@*Conclusions@#The overall awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was low among the first-grade students in Tianjin. Some students reported of already having had insertive sex, sexual health knowledge has a significant impact on AIDS knowledge, suggesting that sexual health education and AIDS health education among high school students be strengthened in Tianjin.
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Background: HIV/AIDS is not only a public health problem but also a social, political and economic challenge. The key concern with HIV infection is not only about infected person, but also about the chain of people infected by that individual and that h/she will probably infect in the future. The prevalence of HIV infection in India has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Commercial sex workers and their clients are at highest risk for HIV infection and transmission. Objective: The present study describes the sexual behaviour, knowledge, attitude and practices in context to HIV/AIDS amongst female sex workers (FSWs) in red light area of Mumbai city. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted among female sex workers in red light area of Mumbai city during period of October 2008 to September 2009. A total 103 female sex workers were selected and interviewed. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 13.0). Results: In the present study, the mean age of the FSWs was 26.4 ± 5.2 years and 43.8% belonged to lower middle class socio-economic status. Most of the FSWs responded poverty (84%) and broken family (76%) as the main reasons for resorting to the sex trade. Majority of the FSWs (72.8%) were illiterate and more than half (67%) did not have any children. Most of the FSWs (84.5%) were aware about HIV/AIDS but only 33% were aware of the status of their partner. Only 13.6% FSWs knew that HIV could be transmitted to the child through breast feeding from an infected mother. Conclusion: Misconception about HIV was very high. Most of the FSWs in the present study had first sexual debut at a very young age. Routine screening and periodic surveys are warranted in order for early detection of infections including HIV and other STDs.
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<b>Introduction</b><br> Recent strategic plans for HIV/AIDS control in Sri Lanka have stressed the need to focus prevention interventions on most-at-risk populations and similarly laid out the importance of improving HIV/AIDS awareness among the general population. Programmatic attention has to be strengthened to effectively change AIDS-related poor knowledge, low risk perceptions and risky sexual practices at the individual level, and avert an epidemic. While current data on at-risk populations are available to inform interventions, there is paucity of latest evidence for the general population programs.<br><b>Methods</b><br> In April-May 2009, a cross-sectional study involving 1,239 population-based and randomly selected respondents aged 15-49 was completed in Kandy, Sri Lanka (response rate=87.2%). The study collected data on HIV/AIDS knowledge, perceptions and sexual practices among the general population to supply current information for the intervention. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate approaches. <br><b>Results</b><br> While almost all respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS, sizeable proportions (44.7-76.2%) knew little about the types of sexually transmitted infections, and about the transmission modes and prevention methods of HIV/AIDS. Although 80% of respondents had low risk perceptions and were mostly at low risk behaviorally, their knowledge of HIV/AIDS was inadequate. They assessed their risks and practiced unsafer sex without the benefit of having evidence-based knowledge. The knowledge, perceptions and practices were significantly associated with gender, marital status, education, religion, and/or residence.<br><b>Conclusions</b><br> The gaps in substantive knowledge on HIV/AIDS suggest that no effective information and other related types of support have been provided to the general population in Sri Lanka. In the context of the need to contribute to sustaining the low prevalence of HIV in the country, a base of scientific knowledge and wider advocacy programs should be developed.
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Objective:To explore the characteristics and influencing factors of college students' AIDS attitudes in china.Methods:1067 college students were investigated with Attitudes toward AIDS Scale, AIDS Knowledge Scale, Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale, Attitudes Toward HIV Risk People Questionnaire, Perceived Partners' Attitudes Toward AIDS Questionnaire, Perceived AIDS Susceptibility and Severity Questionnaire.Results:(1)College students who had different hometowns (99.5?8.1/93.0?7.6,t=4.18,P