HIV knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Zambezia Province, Mozambique
HIV knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Zambezia Province, Mozambique
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DOI：
10.1080/17290376.2012.665257
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发表时间：
2012-03-01
影响因子：
1.1
通讯作者：
Vermund, Sten H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Audet, Carolyn M.;Sidat, Mohsin;Vermund, Sten H.
2009年赞比西亚省的艾滋病毒流行率估计为12.6%。一些教育运动的目的是改善社区成员的艾滋病毒传播和预防知识，以努力降低感染率。这些运动还鼓励人们在临床现场寻求医疗保健，而不是雇用传统的治疗师来治愈严重疾病。这些方案对农村人口的影响没有得到很好的记录。为了评估艾滋病传播和预防的知识水平和寻求健康行为，我们在2009年访问了349人，采用自由回答和多项选择问卷。超过一半的人报告说，第一次到政府卫生诊所寻求治疗；然而，大多数参与者过去曾去看过传统治疗师。关于预防和传播艾滋病毒的知识主要限于感染的性来源和使用避孕套的保护优势。更高的教育水平和从社区卫生工作者那里了解到艾滋病毒与更高的艾滋病毒预防和传播知识有关。传统治疗师和社区卫生保健工作者都是向我们的研究参与者传递健康信息的渠道。通过与这些群体更密切地合作，可以促进艾滋病毒教育和临床服务的使用。
HIV prevalence rates in Zambezia Province were estimated to be 12.6% in 2009. A number of educational campaigns have been aimed at improving HIV transmission and prevention knowledge among community members in an effort to reduce infection rates. These campaigns have also encouraged people to seek health care at clinical sites, instead of employing traditional healers to cure serious illness. The impact of these programs on the rural population has not been well documented. To assess the level of knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention and health-seeking behavior, we interviewed 349 people in 2009 using free response and multiple choice questionnaires. Over half reported first seeking treatment at a government health clinic; however, the majority of participants had visited a traditional healer in the past. Knowledge regarding prevention and transmission of HIV was primarily limited to the sexual origins of infection and the protective advantages of condom use. Increased educational level and having learned about HIV from a community health worker were associated with higher HIV prevention and transmission knowledge. Traditional healers and community health-care workers were both conduits of health information to our study participants. HIV education and use of clinical services may be facilitated by partnering more closely with these groups.