Knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk of AIDS among urban Rwandan women: relationship to HIV infection and behavior change.
We examined factors associated with perceived risk of AIDS, behavior change, and HIV infection in a representative sample of 1458 child-bearing urban women in Rwanda, central Africa. Although 68% of women reported only one lifetime partner, and the majority (87%) lived with a husband or steady partner, the prevalence of HIV antibodies was still high (32%). Before receiving their HIV test results, the women completed a questionnaire about AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge about HIV transmission was high, with 96-98% of women correctly identifying the three primary routes of infection. However, only 16% of women reported taking any action to avoid AIDS in the previous year, and most (11%) had done so merely by asking their male partners to change their behavior. Only 7% of women had ever tried condoms, and many (68%) thought they could be dangerous to use. Women who perceived themselves at risk of AIDS (57%) were more likely to report changing behavior; they were also more likely to be infected with HIV. Other factors associated with behavior change included having known someone with AIDS, having discussed AIDS with a male partner, and believing that condoms are not dangerous. Future interventions should enhance perception of risk, encourage male sexual partners to reduce risky behavior, and increase familiarity with condoms.
Lindan
C
C
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco 94105.
Allen
S
S
Carael
M
M
Nsengumuremyi
F
F
Van de Perre
P
P
Serufilira
A
A
Tice
J
J
Black
D
D
Coates
T
T
Hulley
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population