HIV This Week

Meundi AD, Amma A, Rao A, Shetty S, Shetty AK. Cross-sectional population-based study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HIV/AIDS in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka, India. Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic Ill) 2007 Jun 6; [Epub ahead of print].

The objective of this study was to assess AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general population in South India. The 1669 participants (834 males, 835 females) aged 19-49 years were surveyed using a stratified 2-stage random sampling design with probability proportional to size. Although 54% of participants knew that AIDS is caused by “HIV” virus and 44% could correctly identify all modes of transmission, 52% believed in one or more myths, 41% did not know that condoms can prevent HIV, and 18% had not heard of a condom. Higher HIV knowledge scores were significantly associated with male gender, higher education, currently married, higher frequency of reading newspapers, listening to radio or watching television, and willingness to get tested for HIV (P <.01). Thirty-four percent felt that HIV-infected individuals should be kept away from others, and 40% were not willing to accept a family member with HIV. There was a significant and positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (P <.01). Among respondents who ever had sexual intercourse, significantly more males declared having more than one sexual partner compared to females (P <.01). Only 16% of respondents reported that they consistently used condoms. Sixty-two percent of the respondents were willing to undergo an HIV test if provided free of cost. This willingness to opt for HIV testing increased significantly with better knowledge score, better attitude score, and higher education status (P <.01). HIV prevention campaigns in India should focus on public education, stigma reduction, promotion of condom use, and risk-reduction behaviours in urban and rural communities targeted toward young adults.

Editors’ note: High levels of stigma, the cost of HIV testing, and low levels of knowledge combine to dissuade people from learning their HIV status in this district in Karnataka. A striking 41% of respondents did not know that condoms can prevent HIV infection and 40% were not willing to accept a family member living with HIV. Although India has made progress in increasing AIDS awareness, clearly much remains to be done.