title: Sexual risk-taking and HIV testing among health workers in Zambia.
abstract: Health workers (N=692) in five Zambian hospitals were interviewed to assess HIV/AIDS risk-taking and status awareness. They comprised of physicians, nurses, clinical officers and paramedics. Only 33% had been tested for HIV and only 24% said their partner had been tested. 26 percent of sexually active respondents had multiple partners; thirty-seven percent of these had not used condoms. Only 60% of respondents believed condoms were effective in preventing HIV. Women were less likely to trust or use condoms even in high-risk relationships. The data suggest a need to develop HIV/AIDS programs for health workers, with emphasis towards gender-based obstacles hampering safer behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Population Council-Horizons/PATH, General Accident House, Ralph Bunche Road, Enterprise Road, P.O. Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, Kenya. kkiragu@pcnairobi.org
authors.forename: Karusa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiragu
authors.forename: Thabale
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngulube
authors.forename: Mutinta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyumbu
authors.forename: Panganani
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Njobvu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eerens
authors.forename: Chilufya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mwaba
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology