Fatemeh Balali Meybodi - B.Sc. in Public Health, Expert in Health Education & Improvement Dept., Department for Health Affairs, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Minoo Mahmoudi Zarandi - M.Sc. in Linguistics, Department for Research Affairs, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Background & Objective : AIDS is not only a health problem but also a sociocultural challenge leading to economic problems Since appropriate health behavior is the result of adequate knowledge and attitude this study was performed on couples referring to Kerman premarriage counseling center to determine their knowledge and attitude towards AIDS and its related factors   Methods : In this crosssectional study ۱۰۲۰ couples participated Data was collected using a questionnaire concerning demographic information and including ۲۲ questions about knowledge and ۱۰ items about attitudes   Results : According to our findings the couples knowledge level was excellent in ۴۰۱% good in ۳۷۴% moderate in ۲۰% and poor in ۲۶% The attitude was excellent in ۵۸۴% good in ۳۳۵% moderate in ۷۱% and poor in ۱۱% There was a significant relationships between knowledge and attitude with age educational status and career using Chisquare test (P=۰۰۰۰۱ in all cases) in a way that those with higher educational levels in age group between ۱۶ to ۳۵ years old and employees had better knowledge and a more positive attitude There was also a significant relationship between the attitude and sex (P=۰۰۰۰۱) male participants showed a more positive attitude compared with women Among sources of knowledge radio and TV were the most frequently mentioned ones (۵۹۹%)   Conclusion : Our results suggest that TV and radio are the most frequent information resources so improving their related educational programs according to addressed group is necessary More attention to health education in schools accompanied with cooperation and supervision of health sector is recommended

Knowledge, Attitude, AIDS, Couples