AIDS awareness among women and its influence on attitude toward people living with HIV/AIDS in Burundi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate women’s knowledge on HIV and their attitude toward AIDS infected people.
Methods: Structured and oriented questionnaire on AIDS knowledge,  behavior and attitude toward people with HIV/AIDS, sources of information was used in assessing women’s level of AIDS awareness. 2042 women participated in this study.
Results: Living in urban area was associated with taking care without worry (OR: 0.59; CI: 0.37-0.95; P=0.02) and eating on same plate (OR: 0.44; CI: 0.33-0.74; P=0.07). Catholic religion (OR: 1.79; CI: 1.09-2.24; P=0.03) and protestant (OR: 2.09; CI: 1.19-3.70; P=0.06) were associated with taking care without worry. Good knowledge was associated with taking care without worry (OR: 1.08; CI: 1.09-2.94; P =0.04) and with sharing same work office (OR: 0.87; CI: 2.49-3.61; P=0.03). Sources of  information were ranked from health care workers (97.5%), mass media (91.2%) and clerical leader (87.9%).
Conclusion: This research revered discrepancies on HIV knowledge between urban and rural women. Misunderstanding on HIV/AIDS remains in Burundi women even having high level of awareness. Communication between  parents/women and friend/friend women was less used in HIV  sensitization. Knowledge alone cannot counter bad behavior and attitudes toward people with HIV.

Key words: HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Attitude, Women.