Del Rio C, Saluja R, Gvetadze R, Tsertsvadze T; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 205 (abstract no. 14116).
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303-3033, USA.
BACKGROUND: Georgia, a newly independent state formed after the breakdown of the former Soviet Union, has 50 persons reported with AIDS through Dec/97 but it is thought that up to 700 are HIV infected. Although these numbers are small when compared to other countries, Georgia is considered at high risk for HIV infection because there is an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI's), intravenous drug use and commercial sex trade. Our study seeks to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KAP) about sexuality, HIV/AIDS and STI's among high school students in Tibilisi, Georgia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 10 randomly selected high schools; 464 students between the ages 15-18 participated. A standardized self-administered questionnaire, based on one used for a similar study in St. Petersburg, Russia [AIDS 9 (suppl 1):S53-60; 1995] was applied after informed consent. To decrease "socially desirable" responses men and women completed the questionnaire separately. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi-Info 6.0. RESULTS: Of 464 students--250 (53.9%) women and 214 (49.1%) men--278 (60.8%) had engaged in sexual activity by the age of 16 but only 85 (30.6%) reported ever using a condom during intercourse. Most students (71.4%) considered condoms protective against HIV but only 12% believed they were necessary when partners love each other and 76% of respondents stated that condoms can be reused after washing. The primary source of information about sexuality were friends (75.7%) and movies. Most (72%) believed that AIDS is a disease exclusively of homosexuals, prostitutes and drug users, 74% stated that people with HIV should be isolated and 52% declared that they don't want to study with an HIV-infected person for fear of contagion. CONCLUSIONS: Students in Tibilisi, Georgia are engaging in unsafe sexual activity without adequate knowledge which puts them at risk for HIV and STI's. In addition, misconceptions about HIV/AIDS as well as homophobic and discriminatory attitudes that may further fuel on HIV epidemic. There is a need to implement sex education programs that address specifically issues of gender and human rights as a HIV prevention strategy.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Coitus
- Condoms
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Data Collection
- Female
- Georgia
- Georgia (Republic)
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Humans
- Knowledge
- Male
- Questionnaires
- Russia
- Schools
- Sex Education
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexuality
- Students
- USSR
Other ID:
UI: 102227986
From Meeting Abstracts