HIV-related knowledge and stigma among high school students in Libya

This study aims to measure indicators of HIV-related stigma among students of high schools in the North West of Libya. The results will be part of baseline data and evaluation of the impact of successive interventions. Understanding the behaviour of risk groups in a society, such as young people, is essential in order to draw effective prevention strategies. Behavioural surveillance surveys have been shown to make an important and useful contribution to informing the response to HIV. This study was part of a large Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practice survey. A self-administrated questionnaire method was used. The response rates were high (83-92%). Despite high level of stigma shown by both boys and girls in the study, 91% of students supported providing free care to HIV infected individuals. The HIV intervention programmes for young people should operate within a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. The stigmatizing and the discriminatory perceptions of HIV infected individuals should be addressed as part of the education campaign.     

中国18省市城市高中生预防艾滋病知识和态度分析

目的了解中国城市高中生预防艾滋病知识、态度情况,为进一步制定高中生艾滋病预防教育提供依据。方法按照分层整群抽样方法,抽取全国18个省(自治区、直辖市,下同)的109 754名城市高中生进行《中国青少年健康危险行为》问卷调查,问卷采取无记名自填方式。结果 109 754名城市高中生中,55.3%的学生曾从学校接受过艾滋病教育,79.0%的学生"知道艾滋病病原体",68.6%的学生"不同意将感染艾滋病的同学隔离",66.0%的学生表示"会像以前那样和感染艾滋病的朋友继续来往"。各省之间艾滋病预防教育差异较大,职业高中学生在学校接受艾滋病教育和反歧视态度的报告率,均低于重点高中和普通高中的学生(P<0.01);社会经济水平好的地区反歧视态度较高(P<0.01)。结论我国学校预防艾滋病教育资源分布不均衡,北方地区学校开展预防艾滋病知识教育的覆盖率还不够,还应加强对职业高中学生艾滋病的宣传和健康教育力度。     

HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia

HIV/AIDS stigma is one of the major public health challenges in Ethiopia. This study examined knowledge about HIV/AIDS and factors behind stigmatisation towards people living with the virus based on demographic and health survey data collected in 2011 from women in the age group 15–49 years. The result shows that 49.3% of rural women had adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS compared with 74.7% of urban women. About three-fourths (72.1%) of the rural women had stigmatising attitudes towards PLWHA whilst the proportion in urban areas was only about a third (34.2%). The likelihood of having adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS was significantly higher among educated women but lower among those living in Afar, Somali, and Gambella regions and Dire Dawa City. Women with higher levels of education and frequent access to media had a lower tendency to stigmatise people living with the virus. Adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS was also significantly associated with lower likelihood of stigmatisation. The results generally indicate that HIV/AIDS stigma in Ethiopia is partly explained by people's knowledge about HIV/AIDS and by socio-cultural factors that shape their perception of the epidemic. Awareness-raising efforts should thus consider the socio-cultural contexts in which stigma occurs to tackle discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.     

山西省高中生艾滋病知识知晓情况调查

目的了解山西省不同年级高中生艾滋病相关知识的知晓率,并对不同年级高中生的知晓率进行综合评价,为今后有针对性地在高中生中开展艾滋病健康教育工作提供科学的依据。方法采用分层整群随机抽样方法,抽取12所学校中不同年级高中生进行艾滋病相关知识问卷调查,使用卡方检验、综合指数法进行统计分析。结果共调查2 013人,结果除了艾滋病的医学名称、艾滋病病毒(HIV)是什么、传播途径这三个问题知晓率在一、二、三年级之间比较,差异无统计学意义(P值分别为0.490、0.450、0.060),其他7项比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。三个年级高中生知晓率的综合指数由高到低依次为高三(4.725)、高二(4.1104)、高一(3.4318)。结论高三学生艾滋病知识的整体掌握水平最高,高一学生最低。今后应针对不同年级高中生的不同艾滋病知识缺陷进行重点培训和指导。     

Family and community level stigma and discrimination among women living with HIV/AIDS in a high HIV prevalence district of India

ABSTRACT

To examine HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in a high-HIV-prevalence district in India, we used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted recently among randomly selected married HIV-positive women, 15–29 years of age. Overall, 88% of respondents experienced stigma and discrimination from family and community. Factors associated with stigma and discrimination differed in the family and community contexts. Higher age gap between spouses and poor household status were significant in explaining the stigma and discrimination from husbands. Older age of the husband and lower household economic status significantly increased the stigma and discrimination from husbands’ family as well as from friends and neighbors. Different interventions should be developed for family and community contexts focusing on counseling for husbands, couples, family, and educational programs at the community level to reduce stigma and discrimination.     

高中生性态度与AIDS／性相关知识及性教育现状调查

目的了解当代高中生的性态度、艾滋病（AIDS）／性相关知识等的知晓情况以及性教育现状,为今后采取针对性的健康教育提供科学依据。方法对陕西省汉中地区4个县5所高中的1040名学生进行匿名自填式问卷调查,采用SPSS 13．0软件录入数据,并进行频数描述。结果共得有效问卷940份,其中43．51％的学生有过恋爱经历,64．06％的学生不反对婚前性行为。高中生对AIDS传播途径的平均知晓率为87．00％。有41．49％的学生知道避孕的方法。只有41．60％的高中生接受过性教育,70．00％的学生认为有必要开设专门的性教育课程。结论当代高中生的性开放度已经有了很大提高,但对一些性知识的了解还比较贫乏,同时接受正规的性教育仍然不足。因此亟需在高中普及性教育,同时性教育还应与AIDS知识的宣传相结合。     

Association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana

In Botswana, an estimated 350 000 people live with HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS testing rates are low, suggesting that many other people remain undiagnosed. Stigma related to HIV/AIDS is prevalent and contributes to low testing rates and under-diagnosis of the virus. Identifying factors that contribute to stigma, such as insufficient or inaccurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS, may be critical in increasing early identification and treatment. This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the 2013 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS) IV to examine the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigmatising attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The mean (standard error) for stigma towards PLWHA score and HIV/AIDS knowledge score were 0.99 (0.02) and 5.90 (0.03) respectively. HIV/AIDS knowledge score and stigma towards PLWHA score were strongly positively correlated r (4,4045) = 0.415, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, HIV/AIDS knowledge score significantly predicted stigma towards PLWHA score [coefficient β (95% CI)] [?0.25 (?0.29, ?0.20), p < 0.001]. These findings imply that programmes and interventions that increase HIV/AIDS knowledge may reduce the pervasive apprehension, blame, and stigmatising attitude held towards PLWHA in Botswana.     

HIV/AIDS knowledge, beliefs, and behavior among women of childbearing age in India.

This study investigated the relationships of health beliefs and HIV/AIDS knowledge with frequency of condom use among women of childbearing age in four major Indian cities. Surveys were completed by 210 women attending six primary health care centers. Among the sexually active women (N = 139), 68% noted rare or no use of condoms during intercourse. Perceived benefits (p < .05) and normative efficacy in requesting condom use (p = .01) were related to a greater frequency of condom use. About 54% of women knew that breast milk could transmit HIV, but fewer than a third were aware that an HIV-positive mother does not always infect her infant at delivery. Most participants endorsed HIV testing for women prior to pregnancy. Approximately three fourths of participants advocated abortion for HIV-seropositive pregnant women. Intervention efforts may benefit from dispelling misconceptions about AIDS (particularly regarding vertical transmission), emphasizing perceived benefits and women's efficacy in requesting condom use, increasing the availability of HIV testing, and highlighting choices for seropositive women of reproductive age as alternatives to abortion.     

The effect of question format on measured HIV/AIDS knowledge: detention center teens, high school students, and adults.

This study examines the effect of question format on HIV/AIDS knowledge assessed in teens in a detention center, public high school students, and adults. Multiple-choice items were taken from a Red Cross questionnaire and were transformed into open-ended and true/false/don't know formats. Each respondent received an open-ended and a structured version of the test (consisting of multiple-choice and true/false/don't know items). Format effects varied by group and order of presentation: High school students and adults performed better on the open-ended questions if they had answered the structured versions first-suggesting that the structured questions provided these respondents with unintended cues. Detention center youths did not benefit from having answered the structured items, and scored especially low on the open-ended questions. However, they did almost as well as the other groups with the true/false/don't know format. Implications are discussed for measuring HIV/AIDS knowledge and evaluating educational programs for different target audiences.     

New Jersey high school students' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding AIDS

In 1988 a questionnaire was administered to 1,793 urban and suburban New Jersey high school students to survey their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to the acquisition of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Knowledge about the disease was high, but exaggeration of risk from social contacts was common. Although fear was associated with misperceptions, it was not always dispelled by knowledge. Nearly half (49%) of all participants reported having used condoms, indicating that condom use is somewhat familiar and acceptable to them. Over 80% thought that condoms offer some protection against AIDS. However, knowledge did not always result in recognition or practice of risk-reduction behaviors. Student suggestions for slowing the spread of AIDS stressed personal responsibility and education. Follow-up assemblies that used survey results to address gaps in knowledge appeared necessary to counter misperceptions that might have arisen from the survey.     

Measurement of self, experienced, and perceived HIV/AIDS stigma using parallel scales in Chennai, India

HIV/AIDS stigma can severely compromise the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) by reducing access and quality of care, adherence to therapy, and disclosure of HIV status, thereby potentially increasing transmission. The objective of this study was to develop and psychometrically test three parallel scales measuring self, experienced, and perceived stigma among PLHA (n=188) in Chennai, India. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which was used to facilitate item reduction and assess construct validity, confirmed the presence of three underlying theoretical domains. The final number of items and Cronbach's Alpha for each scale were: 8 items, Alpha of 0.84, for self stigma; 7 items, Alpha of 0.86, for experienced stigma; and 7 items, Alpha of 0.83, for perceived stigma. External validity was ascertained by confirming a significant positive association between the measure of each type of stigma and depression (measured using CES-D), using structural equation modeling (SEM). Therefore, scales were parsimonious, reliable, and were found to be valid measures of HIV/AIDS stigma. Using these validated scales, researchers can accurately collect data to inform the design of stigma reduction programs and interventions and enable subsequent evaluation of their effectiveness.     

Secrecy,stigma and HIV/AIDS: An introduction

This paper situates the articles selected for this special issue of AJAR within the context of the Sex and Secrecy conference, from which they emerged and within the discourse of secrecy. Secrecy and silence which have characterised the HIV/AIDS epidemic in many societies, have been the focus of limited academic attention. Yet the power of the secret is evident in multiple spheres. This introduction uses the lens of secrecy to enhance our understanding of sexuality. One of the themes which ran throughout these papers was that of stigma and its links to secrecy and HIV/AIDS. The papers reviewed in this introduction highlight an alarming paradox. There is a high level of HIV awareness and unparalleled public attention around matters of sexuality and yet the authors in this special issue all point to the enormity of stigma and its consequences.     

贵州省青年学生艾滋病防治知识知晓现状调查

目的 了解贵州省青年学生艾滋病防治相关知识的知晓情况,为开展青年学生艾滋病防治工作提供依据.方法 采用自愿网络问卷方式调查2019-2020年参加贵州省艾滋病防治项目47所高校学生的艾滋病防治知识知晓情况.结果 73 073名青年学生参与网络调查,艾滋病防治知识总知晓率为70.5％;学生对性传播、血液传播和母婴传播是艾滋病传播途径的知晓率高于非艾滋病传播途径的知晓率(x2=1 531.642,P＜0.05).多因素分析显示,女生艾滋病防治知识知晓率高于男生(OR=1.245,95％CI=1.203～1.288,P＜0.05);与研究生相比,本科生(OR=0.684,95％CI=0.480～0.974)和专科生(OR=0.315,95％CI=0.221～0.450)知晓率较低(P＜0.05);与贵阳市相比,黔南州(OR=0.514,95％CI=0.482～0.549)和铜仁市(OR=0.841,95％CI=0.791～0.894)学生的知晓率较低(P＜0.05),毕节市(OR=2.379,95％CI=1.919～2.950)学生的知晓率较高(P＜0.05).结论 在青年学生中仍需进一步普及艾滋病防治知识,有针对性地强化不同性别和不同教育程度学生的薄弱知识点,着重对非艾滋病的传播途径、流行状况、检测及治疗等知识开展形式多样的宣传教育.     

北京、河南新乡中学生艾滋病相关调查

目的了解北京市、河南新乡市两地部分中学生对艾滋病（AIDS）及相关知识、态度、行为（KAP）现状.方法选取北京西城区5所中学、河南新乡市3所中学的中学生462名,采取KAP问卷调查.结果北京市和新乡市两地中学生知道3条传播途径的比例为分别为78.5%和51.3%（P＜0.01）,知道日常生活接触不传播艾滋病的比例各占48.2%和33.2%（P＜0.01）,在学校学过有关AIDS知识的比例分别为80.6%和41.3%（P＜0.01）,差异均有非常显著的统计学意义.而两地中学生愿意与AIDS病人和艾滋病病毒（HIV）感染者同班学习的比例分别仅为34.6%、31.4%,看过描写性行为作品的比例分别为24.6%和22.9%,反对婚前性行为的比例分别为56.5%和64.9%,差异均无显著性.结论在中学生尤其是中小城市的中学生中,尽快开展科学、系统的性知识和预防HIV/AIDS知识的健康教育,并加强对中学生性态度、性行为的引导.     

Socio-economic status and HIV/AIDS stigma in Tanzania

Tanzania has a generalised AIDS epidemic but the estimated adult HIV prevalence of 6% is much lower than in many countries in Southern Africa. HIV infection rates are reportedly higher in urban areas, among women and among those with more education. Stigma has been found to be more common in poorer, less-educated people, and those in rural areas. We examined associations between poverty and other variables and a stigmatising attitude (belief that HIV/AIDS is punishment for sinning). The variables we examined in a multivariate model included: food sufficiency (as an indicator of poverty), age, sex, marital status, education, experience of intimate partner violence, condom-related choice disability, discussion about HIV/AIDS, sources of information about HIV/AIDS and urban or rural residence. Of the 1,130 men and 1,803 women interviewed, more than half (58%) did not disagree that "HIV/AIDS is punishment for sinning". Taking other variables into account, people from the poorest households (without enough food in the last week) were more likely to believe HIV/AIDS is punishment for sinning (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.06-1.59). Others factors independently associated with this stigmatising attitude were: having less than primary education (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.62); having experienced intimate partner violence in the last year (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12-1.75); being choice disabled for condom use (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.71); and living in rural areas (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.90). The level of HIV and AIDS stigma in Tanzania is high with independent associations with several disadvantages: poverty, less education and living in rural areas. Other vulnerable groups, such as survivors of intimate partner violence, are also more likely to have a stigmatising attitude. HIV prevention programmes should take account of stigma, especially among the disadvantaged, and take care not to increase it.