AEGiS-14IAC: Understanding the HIV epidemic in Jamaica through repeated behavioural surveys.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Understanding the HIV epidemic in Jamaica through repeated behavioural surveys.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrC1228)

Gebre Y, Norman L, Figueroa JP, Wedderburn M, Ashley D, Brathwaite A
Ministry of Health, Kingston, Jamaica

BACKGROUND: This paper examines the effort of the national HIV Prevention Program in reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence trends through changes in risk behaviour in the general population over a decade.

METHODS: Four cross-sectional surveys employing stratified, multi-staged household samples of the adult population aged 15-49 years were conducted nationwide in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000. The sample size included 1184, 1193, 1189 and 1489 men and women in each survey year, respectively. Comprehensive sexual knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice surveys were conducted using standardized pretested questionnaires. The chi-square test for trend in binomial proportions was used for the trend analysis.

RESULTS: Knowledge levels of HIV prevention have risen significantly from 70.5% in 1992 to 95.5% in 2000 (p<0.001). In 1996, 78.7% of men and 87.7% of women identified that staying with one faithful sex partner is a protective behaviour. Consistent condom use with a non-regular sexual partner for men improved from 55.4% to 77% (p<0.001); however, there was a decline in condom use in women from 70.7% in 1996 to 44% in 2000. There was also a statistically significant improvement in every time condom use among men with a regular sex partner from 21.9% in 1992 to 33.2% in 2000 (p<0.001). The self-perception of risk of HIV by both men and women declined significantly from 42.3% in 1992 to 34.9% in 2000 (p<0.001). Multiple sexual partnerships in the last 12 months increased from 8.3% among women in 1992 to 19.4% in 2000, (p<0.001) and showed a slight increase for men from 60% in 1992 and 65% in 2000.

CONCLUSION: Behavioural surveillance is an important tool for tracking behaviour and helps to evaluate prevention programs and explain HIV prevalence in the general population. This trend analysis has demonstrated that efforts have to be made in promoting safe sexual behaviour and reducing high-risk activities.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Data Collection, Sexual Partners, HIV Seropositivity, Prevalence, Risk-Taking, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disease Outbreaks, Safe Sex, Cross-Sectional Studies, Questionnaires, Jamaica, Human, Male, Female, Adult

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TuOrC1228