A Population-based Study into Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs (KAB) about HIV/AIDS

Background: It has been reported that three factors may be responsible for the social stigma associated with disease: widespreadignorance, little information and misconceptions about the disease in society.Objectives: This study is aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS in residents of Mashhad, the largest city innortheast Iran.Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over three days, starting on December 1 2013, since this day was theWorld’s AIDS day. Each day the investigating group carried out the study in a different crowded place in the city. Using a conveniencesampling method, members of the public were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which included the world health organization’s instrumentfor assessing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS. The data obtained were evaluated by frequency and percentageratios, Chi-square ( 2), Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, using the significance level P < 0.05.Results: Three hundred and eighty five individuals participated in this study. The median age was 27 years and the interquartile rangewas 21 - 45 years. The data analysis showed that most participants had good knowledge in this general domain: 70.2% of the answersin this domain were correct (47.1% in males and 23.1% in females). In general, the respondents’ attitudes toward AIDS were found tobe tolerable and the total score showed significant differences according to educational level (P < 0.001). The majority of the respondentsindicated that television, newspapers, magazines, and books were their major sources of information about AIDS. Approximately80% of participants needed specific information about the disease, with the prevention methods being the most frequently requestedinformation.Conclusions: This study showed that we must put more effort in translating knowledge into behavior.

Keywords:

Knowledge , Attitudes , Beliefs , HIV/AIDS