Adu-Sarkodie Y; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 783 (abstract no. PO-D01-3393).
STD Clinic, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
A questionnaire based study of the knowledge and awareness to STDs/AIDS was carried out amongst 256 subjects in the sexually active age group 15-59 years in Kumasi, a large urban city in Ghana. The study population included Health Workers, Civil Servants, Bankers, Unemployed, Students, Teachers, Traders and Social Workers. HIV/AIDS knowledge and awareness was very high with all members of the group (100%) having heard about AIDS and 75% knowing at least 2 symptoms of AIDS Clinical presentation. The same was not true however of the "Traditional" Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The proportion of respondents knowing some of the traditional STDs were: Gonorrhoea (70%), Non Gonococcal Urethritis (1.2%), Syphilis (50%), Chancroid (0%), Warts (4.8%), Herpes (4.8%), Trichomoniasis (4.8%), Bacterial vaginosis (0%), Hepatitis B (2.4%). Of the 50%, knowing/having heard about syphilis, only half of them knew it, presented with genital ulceration. This study shows a disturbing feature which is seen in some developing countries where knowledge of the population on AIDS is high due to good information, education and communication (1 EC) skills. These skills unfortunately have not been translated to the traditional STDs on which there is still a great deal of ignorance. with emerging research of the interaction between STDs and AIDS and its implications, STD control programmes need the same boost that has characterised AIDS education and control programmes.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Awareness
- Chancroid
- Developing Countries
- Female
- Ghana
- Gonorrhea
- HIV Infections
- Health Education
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Knowledge
- Research
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Students
- Syphilis
Other ID:
UI: 102206692
From Meeting Abstracts