Knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk of AIDS among urban Rwandan women: relationship to HIV infection and behavior change.

ABSTRACT

We examined factors associated with perceived risk of AIDS, behavior change, and HIV infection in a representative sample of 1458 child-bearing urban women in Rwanda, central Africa. Although 68% of women reported only one lifetime partner, and the majority (87%) lived with a husband or steady partner, the prevalence of HIV antibodies was still high (32%). Before receiving their HIV test results, the women completed a questionnaire about AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge about HIV transmission was high, with 96-98% of women correctly identifying the three primary routes of infection. However, only 16% of women reported taking any action to avoid AIDS in the previous year, and most (11%) had done so merely by asking their male partners to change their behavior. Only 7% of women had ever tried condoms, and many (68%) thought they could be dangerous to use. Women who perceived themselves at risk of AIDS (57%) were more likely to report changing behavior; they were also more likely to be infected with HIV. Other factors associated with behavior change included having known someone with AIDS, having discussed AIDS with a male partner, and believing that condoms are not dangerous. Future interventions should enhance perception of risk, encourage male sexual partners to reduce risky behavior, and increase familiarity with condoms.

ABSTRACT

PIP The authors examined factors associated with perceived risk of AIDS, behavior change, and HIV infection in a representative sample of 1458 childbearing urban women in Rwanda, central Africa. Although 68% of them reported only 1 lifetime partner, and the majority (87%) lived with a husband or steady partner, the prevalence of HIV antibodies was still high (32%). Prior to receiving their HIV test results, the women completed a questionnaire about AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge about HIV transmission was high, with 96-98% of women correctly identifying the 3 primary routes of infection. However, only 16% reported taking any action to prevent AIDS in the previous year, and most (11%) had done so merely by asking their male partners to change their behavior. Only 7% of the women has ever tried condoms, and many (68%) thought they could by dangerous to use. Those women who perceived themselves at risk for AIDS (57%0 were more likely to report changing behavior; they were also more likely to be HIV-infected. Other factors associated with behavior change included having known someone with AIDS, having discussed AIDS with a male partners, and believing that condoms are not dangerous. Future interventions should enhance the perception of risk, should encourage male sexual partners to reduce risktaking behavior, and should increase familiarity with condoms.