Bugingo G, Niyitegeka MJ, Butera JB, Kleinfeldt V, Kirsch T; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 828 (abstract no. PO-D09-3662).

National University of Rwanda, Butare.

OBJECTIVE: To relate the knowledge, attitude and beliefs about HIV/AIDS and other STDs to safer sex practices and to HIV seroprevalence among unmarried Rwandan women living in a densely populated, semi-urban area of Butare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 unmarried women were surveyed regarding AIDS related KAP. The mean age for the study group was 27.6 years (range: 18-44 years) and no income of any kind was reported by any woman. A detailed questionnaire including various aspects of HIV/AIDS such as etiology, modes of transmission clinical features and prevention strategies, was administered to each study participant. A blood sample was also obtained from 38 women who volunteered for HIV testing after a session of pre-test counselling. RESULTS: The great majority of the surveyed women had satisfactory knowledge about the ways in which HIV/AIDS and other STDs are transmitted. Whilst many women recognised that no treatment nor vaccine are available yet for HIV/AIDS and that the use of condom is the only effective means to avoid the infection with HIV, only 77% out of 45 surveyed women reported the use of condom on a irregular basis. We also found that all the 38 women (100%) who volunteered for HIV testing were HIV seropositive. CONCLUSION: Most of the surveyed women had good-to-excellent AIDS/STDs related knowledge and their prevention. However, few women have changed their behaviour to reduce the risk of getting infected with HIV. We strongly recommend that all unmarried women of the area of Butare who engage in sexual practices require the use of condoms by their male partners and that further educational compaigns emphasize the need to promote the use of condom.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Attitude
• Condoms
• Condoms, Female
• Data Collection
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• HIV Seroprevalence
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Infection
• Knowledge
• Male
• Questionnaires
• Rwanda
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Other ID:

• 93337583

UI: 102206962

From Meeting Abstracts