title: Knowledge about AIDS and follow-up compliance in patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
abstract: In a survey of 300 consecutive new attenders at the Porgera Health Centre Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic information was obtained regarding knowledge about AIDS from male and female attenders. The differences between the sexes regarding a variety of socioeconomic variables, knowledge about AIDS and their compliance to follow-up appointments were studied as well as possible relationships between these social variables and the degrees of AIDS knowledge and compliance. Males tended to originate from further afield, be more educated, be either in salaried employment or not working at all, and be single as compared to females. They also admitted to more extramarital sexual contacts and received more adequate treatment. Knowledge about AIDS was also significantly higher amongst male attenders and in this group was correlated strongly with overall educational attainment and employment status but did not show any relationship with the number of extramarital contacts admitted to. Only 9% of the patients knew about condoms and their role in prevention. Follow-up compliance was generally poor, and not significantly higher in those with higher scores of knowledge about AIDS, but showed a relationship with the type of disease being treated and with the ultimate adequacy of treatment received.
authors.affiliation: Porgera Health Centre, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D017280:Condoms; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006100:Granuloma Inguinale / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010349:Patient Compliance; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014526:Urethritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology