Community knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its relationship with sexual practices in Tabora and Igunga Districts, western Tanzania
HIV/AIDS represents one of the critical challenges to human development in sub Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its relationship with sexual practices among communities in Tabora and Igunga Districts in western Tanzania. The study employed both quali...
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Published in | Tanzania health research bulletin Vol. 8; no. 3 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Published |
Tanzania
Health User's Trust Fund (HRUTF)
05.03.2007
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | HIV/AIDS represents one of the critical challenges to human development
in sub Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to assess the
knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its relationship with sexual practices among
communities in Tabora and Igunga Districts in western Tanzania. The
study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, which
included interviews and group discussions. A total of 568 participants
(female=49%; males= 51%) were involved in the study. Two hundred and
eighty-four of the respondents were adults (>25 years) and 284 were
youths of 12 - 25 years. The results showed although the
knowledge of the disease and its prevention was high (90%) among the
community, some gaps regarding the knowledge on modes of transmission
were observed. About 17.2% of the respondents reported to have multiple
sexual partners and only about half of the respondents reported the use
of condoms. The level of education correlated significantly with the
individual knowledge on HIV/AIDS (P=0.003). There was no significant
difference between urban and rural communities on their knowledge on
HIV/AIDS (P>0.05). Health education on HIV/AIDS prevention needs to
be strengthened and improved to include cognitive behavioural
interventions that emphasize attitude changes, negotiation skills and
decisionmaking skills that could be effective in changing and
maintaining safe sexual behaviour. |
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ISSN: | 0856-6496 |