title: Factors associated with HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception in rural Malawi.
abstract: Measures of HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception are important because they are often linked to behavioral change both in theory and in practice. This study examines knowledge and risk perception by assessing their relationship with demographic characteristics, first source of HIV/AIDS information, and behavioral and cognitive risk exposures among men and women in a rural district of Malawi. The data come from a panel study of 940 women aged 15-34 years and 661 men aged 20-44 years. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression models are used for the analysis. The results indicate that knowledge of HIV/AIDS does not necessarily translate into perceived risk. In addition, there appears to be a gender difference in the influence of cognitive and behavioral factors on perceived risk.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-8120, USA. bardenof@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Janine L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Barden-O'Fallon
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: deGraft-Johnson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bisika
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sulzbach
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Amy O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Tsui
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors