Cabello A, Sequera M, Cabral M, Kiefer R, Arrom C, Jimenez R; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: C274 (abstract no. PoC 4174).
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS), UNA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to HIV infection in bisexual men in Paraguay using secondary data. METHODS: We used data from an anonymous KAP survey carried out in 1991 in a total of 5127 volunteers recruited consecutively from 6 Paraguayan cities. Of the participants who filled out a questionnaire or agreed to an interview, 2027 were considered at sexual risk of HIV infection (877 female prostitutes, 106 homosexuals, 63 male transvestite prostitutes, 578 prison inmates, and 403 military recruits), 402 had occupational risk as HCW, 2484 were university or college students, and 214 were administrative personnel of health centers. We studied the questionnaires of all male respondents who professed to sexual relations with both men and women, a total of 79 individuals comprising 2.9% of the 2675 male survey respondents. Of these, 17.7% were college students, another 17.7% were prison inmates, about 50% were homosexuals attending an STD clinic, and less than 4% were transvestite prostitutes. Almost 80% were residents of Asuncion. RESULTS: Most respondents were under 25 years of age (68%), 44% were between 15 and 20 years old. Most were single (78%). Fifteen percent had a university education, another 15% had completed secondary school and almost 37% had some secondary school education; 11% had not completed primary school and 2.5% were analfabets. Of the 70% of respondents who knew that condom use reduces risk of infection, more than 41% never use condoms, about 45% use them sometimes but only in about 10% of their sexual encounters. Injection drug use occurred in 5%. Fifty-four percent received their HIV information from TV, 22% from radio 30% from news-papers. More than 80% knew the modes of transmission via sex and blood, only about 66% were aware of vertical transmission, but 33% thought HIV can be acquired by casual contact. Forty-six percent believed that mosquitos can transmit HIV. Only thirty-three percent believed that a person with a positive HIV-antibody test can transmit the infection. Twenty-nine percent believed a negative test implies that the person is immune, and 27% believed that a person with a negative test should not change behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Low condom use and alarming misconceptions about the modes and risk of HIV infection characterizes this sample of young, highly educated Paraguayan males with bisexual behavior. Current programs in educational settings are insufficient, and media information is in urgent need of improvement.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Behavior
- Bisexuality
- Condoms
- Data Collection
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Homosexuality
- Humans
- Male
- Paraguay
- Prostitution
- Questionnaires
- Safe Sex
- Sexual Behavior
- Students
Other ID:
UI: 102199602
From Meeting Abstracts