[Factors associated with HIV risk perception among hospital postpartum women].
OBJECTIVE
To assess factors associated with perception of HIV infection risk among postpartum women admitted to charitable maternity hospitals.


METHODS
The study sample comprised 384 postpartum women admitted to two charitable maternity hospitals in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Data collection was carried out from January to March 2000. All women were interviewed 12 hours after delivery and data was collected on sociodemographics, STD/AIDS knowledge and attitudes (independent variables) and cultural issues (dependent variables), and "whether she considered herself at risk for HIV infection" (dependent variable). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
Nearly 29% of postpartum women considered themselves at risk for HIV infection. They were single, had prior STD and believed "married men enjoy himself in the same way as single men do". Prevention and health maintenance behaviors were also identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Women's knowledge on AIDS seems to affect their individual risk perception. Future HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns should be focused on increasing couples and adolescents' involvement.
Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Psiquiátrica, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. ndspraca@usp.br
Neide de Souza
Nde S
Praça
Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Mdo R
Latorre
Norman
N
Hearst
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors