We analyzed data from a nationally representative population-based household survey, the 2011 Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey. A total of 15,526 participants who responded to questions on HIV knowledge, social intolerance and risky sexual behavior were included in this analysis.
Results show that 34.8% of respondents reported having fear of casual contact with people living with HIV (PLWA), 21% blame PLWAs for their disease, 62% would not want HIV infection in their family disclosed, while 25% reported engaging in risky sexual behaviors. After adjusting for age, sex, residence, and level of education, people with low HIV-transmission knowledge had almost three-fold higher odds of fear of casual contact with a PLWA (aOR?=?2.70, 95%CI?=?2.33–3.13), and had 30% higher odds of HIV-related stigmatizing attitudes (aOR?=?1.29, 95%CI?=?1.07–1.54). Further, they had 47% higher odds of having sex under the influence of alcohol (aOR?=?1.47, 95%CI?=?1.25–1.73) and 40% higher odds of having unprotected sex with any of their last three sex partners (aOR?=?1.39, 95%CI?=?1.06–1.89).
Our findings show that intolerant attitudes such as stigma still persist, particularly among people with low HIV-transmission knowledge. Improving knowledge about HIV/AIDS can foster positive attitudes and building safe practices among populations, and is critical for improving prevention and treatment programs. 相似文献