Publication Cover
AIDS Care
Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 21, 2009 - Issue 1
140
Views
8
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Public knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy in Kabarole district, western Uganda

, , , &
Pages 118-124 | Received 06 Sep 2007, Published online: 10 Dec 2008
 

Abstract

A study on knowledge about HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (ART) was conducted in the general population of a rural district in western Uganda. Three hundred seventy-two participants were selected by random cluster sampling and interviewed with an interview-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed quantitatively with descriptive, univariate and linear multivariate statistical analysis with the knowledge score about ART as the dependent variable. The results indicate that the mean knowledge was 7.7 in a scale from 0 to 13. Predictor for better ART knowledge was a higher educational status of the participants. Older participants over 50 years were less ART knowledgeable. Only 19% of the participants have been tested for HIV. The conclusions are that the ART knowledge in this population is remarkably high which is reaffirming and important for achieving a high adherence to ART. Of concern is the low proportion of persons tested for HIV in this general population. Kabarole district seems to be receptive and capable for intensifying HIV testing which is a precondition for the ART roll-out.

Acknowledgements

We thank Jean Kipp for her comments on the first draft of the manuscript. The study was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), grant number GLP-67575.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.