The Study On The Levels Of AIDS Knowledge, Attitude,Practice And Policy Measures Among Different Groups Of People In The Rural High-prevalence Areas Of AIDS In Henan Province

ObjectiveTo study the status of knowledge, attitude, practice and policies of HIV infectors/AIDS patients (HIV/AIDS patients), the general population (HIV-negative populations), doctors and government officials in the rural high-prevalence areas of AIDS in Henan Province and to analyze the characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practice and policy in the four population groups. Targeted recommendations were proposed to different populations and scientific evidence for implementing intervention policies were provided.MethodIn this study, we used the methods of clinical epidemiology and statistics to design a form of "AIDS integrated information questionnaires" and conducted field research in the rural high-prevalence areas of AIDS in Henan Province.832valid questionnaires were investigated, which included308of HIV/AIDS patients,205of doctors,241of the general population and76of government officials. Based on the characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practice and policy in the four population groups, targeted recommendations were proposed to different populations.Result1. Characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice in the four population groups1.1Characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice in HIV/AIDS patients groupThe infection time and routes of HIV/AIDS patients group were concentrated. They had high awareness rate of HIV transmission and non-transmission routes but low awareness rate of individual problems. They had Low awareness rate of AIDS prevention methods but high awareness rate of the AIDS treatment. They had a single channel to obtain knowledge. The awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was affected by education level and ways of knowledge acquisition. The individual level of humiliation and discrimination phenomenon exists generally. In this group, there was a low rate of condom use, a high rate of mother-to-child transmission and a low awareness rate of AIDS policy.1.2Characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice in general population groupThey had high awareness rate of HIV transmission and non-transmission routes but low awareness rate of individual problems. They had Low awareness rate of AIDS prevention methods and low awareness rate of the AIDS treatment. The awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was affected by the ways of knowledge acquisition. They treated the HIV/AIDS patients group with positive attitude. In this group. there was a low awareness rate of AIDS policy. 1.3Characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice in doctors groupThey had high awareness rate of AIDS knowledge. The education level and professional titles are the main factors affecting AIDS knowledge. In this group, there were a high proportion of doctors who participated in AIDS knowledge training. They treated the HIV/AIDS patients group with positive attitude. There was a lack of psychological care of HIV/AIDS patients. They had heavy workload and low wages.1.4Characteristics of AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice in government officials groupThey had high awareness rate of AIDS knowledge but had Low awareness rate of some AIDS prevention methods. In this group, there was a high proportion of participating in AIDS knowledge training. There was a lack of knowledge of the AIDS epidemic situation in China and discrimination on HIV/AIDS patients. There also was a lack of understanding AIDS policy.2. Recommendations of AIDS prevention and control policyBased on AIDS knowledge in different populations, we should continue to carry out a wide range, targeted health education. We should strengthen the education of rural migrant workers. We should enhance the compliance of AIDS patients with anti-viral treatment. For HIV/AIDS patients and the general population, especially the spouse of the patients, we should continue to promote condom use to prevent the sexual transmission of AIDS. We should carry out a comprehensive Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) to prevent mother to child transmission of AIDS. We should encourage high-risk groups for HIV voluntary counseling and testing for early detection of HIV/AIDS patients. There was a great importance to the psychological care of HIV/AIDS patients. We suggest increasing the financial investment to AIDS prevention and control program to support the health institutions to improve the infrastructure and to carry out personnel training, raising the level of control techniques. Give full play to the role of rural doctors in the prevention and control work. Strengthen the doctors’ sense of propaganda and education on AIDS prevention and control work. Use variety of ways such as doctors, books and lectures to prevent and control AIDS.ConclusionHIV/AIDS patients, the general population, doctors and government officials in the rural high-prevalence areas of AIDS in Henan Province are four important parts in AIDS prevention and control. Their knowledge, attitude and practice have different characteristics. Based on the investigation results, we need to develop targeted publicity, prevention and control programs to lay the foundation for AIDS prevention and control work in this region.