AEGiS-14IAC: Do service providers know equally about STIs and HIV/AIDS: Experiences from a survey.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Do service providers know equally about STIs and HIV/AIDS: Experiences from a survey.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11425)

Hossain I, Khan ME, Rahman M
Population Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: STIs and HIV/AIDS differs significantly from each other. HIV/AIDS is a STI and it has some other important routes of transmission than STIs, such as blood transfusion. But, all STIs do not follow the same route as HIV/AIDS follows. For example, Chlamydia does not infect through blood transfusion. Moreover, most of the STIs are curable but HIV/AIDS does not. In any setting, service providers are the single most key contact person who educates the clients about STI. It is essential that service providers they themselves must have correct knowledge on both STIs and HIV/ AIDS to provide correct information to their clients.

METHODS: This study assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices of grass root service providers who directly provide information and service to the clients. The interviews were conducted using semi-structures questionnaire. A total of 311 providers were participated in the study. They were selected from government and NGO service delivery point. A total of 12 service delivery points were included, 3 from urban and 9 from rural area.

RESULTS: It was revealed that service providers have good knowledge on HIV/AIDS but they lacked on STIs. They confused STIs with HIV/AIDS. Although STI suppose to be talked in any training programme while discussing about HIV/AIDS, but it was not given such seriousness. As a result, service providers became confused STIs with HIV/AIDS, mainly route of transmission and its prognosis. Moreover, same confusions also echoed while asking them for suggestions what could be done to prevent STIs. Replying to this question, service providers mostly suggested how HIV/AIDS could be prevented.

CONCLUSIONS: STD also need to be talked as like as HIV/AIDS.

RESULTS: Service providers have good knowledge on HIV/AIDS but their knowledge on STI need to be improved. This should be kept in mind while arranging training for them that they lacked knowledge on STI then HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Questionnaires, Interviews, Health Services Needs and Demand, Knowledge, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, HumanKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,questionnaires,interviews,healthservicesneedsanddemand,knowledge,healthknowledge,attitudes,practice,human

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E11425

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.