Marufu T, Magaisa R, Siziya S, Mashayamombe S; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 178 (abstract no. Mo.D.1721).

AIDSCAP, Arlington, VA, USA. Fax: 703.516.9781.

Objectives: To carry out a baseline HIV/AIDS KABP survey against which to measure the impact of Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) HIV/AIDS prevention and control project in future. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-one members of the AFZ and 119 spouses of AFZ members were selected for the study from 3 main AFZ bases through a multi-stage sampling procedure. A prevalence rate of 50% +(-)5%, which gives a maximum sample size of 400 at a 95% confidence level (Epi Info Version 5, 1990), was chosen. Persons selected for the study were interviewed using a structured survey administered questionnaire. Results: 92% of respondents were able to indicate a least 2 ways of preventing HIV. 65.3% of respondents believed that they had "no chance" of getting HIV infection. Over 60% of interviewees had not responded to the AIDS epidemic in a manner that would protect them from acquiring HIV infection. The main sources of information on HIV/AIDS included radio (70.4%), TV (51.6%), friends (46.3%), newspapers (39.4%), peer educators (8.5%), religious leaders (69%), and meetings (4.2%). 95% of the respondents indicated that they could get condoms if they needed them. Out of 393 respondents who had had sex in their lives, 154 or 39.2% had had sex with nonregular partners in the last 12 months. Of the 154 respondents who met the criteria of having had recent, risky sexual intercourse, only 32, or 20.8%, had used condoms in these sexual encounters. Respondents were reluctant to reveal recent occurrence of STDs due to the fact that such an occurrence is punishable under military regulations. Conclusions: The AFZ community had adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention. However, that knowledge has not been translated into behavioral change that would protect the community from HIV transmission. The HIV/AIDS prevention and control project in the AFZ should direct its efforts at working out and implementing a strategy that narrows the gap between knowledge and behavior to effect meaningful control of HIV transmission in this community.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Data Collection
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Knowledge
• Military Personnel
• Prevalence
• Questionnaires
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Zimbabwe
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• 96921758

UI: 102217657

From Meeting Abstracts