Knowledge of HIV /AIDS, STI and condom use among the Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat, India
Journal Title: Healthline - Year 2013, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: IDUs are vulnerable of acquiring HIV/STI due their injecting practices and high risk behaviour. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of IDUs about HIV/AIDS and STI. Methods: It was a cross sectional study done in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 2010. 10% (40) of registered IDUs (400) were included by systematic sampling. Results: All IDUs were males and median age was 34.5 years. Almost half had no formal education. Median age for initiating drug injection practices was 25 years. All IDUs had knowledge of HIV/AIDS and knew that it was infectious. 80% IDUs believed that it was curable and 25% IDUs believed that there is a vaccine for it. All IDUs were tested for HIV once in life time. Sexual route was known to 70%, vertical transmission to 65% and infected needle- syringe route to 60%.Hand shake ,sharing bathroom and sharing clothes does not spread HIV was known to 70%, 57.5% and 50% respectively. Knowledge of modes of prevention showed that abstinence was known to maximun. 62.5% IDUs had correct knowledge of STI and 22.5% had visited STI clinic once in life time.67.5%IDUs mentioned Vesicles and 62.5%Urethral discharge as STI symptoms. All IDUs knew about condom and 25% IDUs had sexual exposure without condom in last 1 year. Conclusion: Knowledge of HIV/ AIDS is good but testing for HIV is poor. Using sterile needle and syringe protect against HIV is poorly known to IDUs. Overall knowledge of STI symptoms is also poor.
Authors and Affiliations
Bhavna Puwar, Vaibhavi Patel, Sheetal Vyas
Keywords
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