Survey of protective behaviour practiced against HIV/AIDS in adult TB patients at Almata Zonal Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of protective behaviour against the spread of HIV infection and TB transmission in a health facility setting.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study involving 190 adult TB patients on anti-TB treatment was conducted at Alamata Zonal hospital, Southern Tigray, in September 2001.


RESULTS
The study showed that among the study population 83% knew TB is a communicable disease, 124 (65.2%) correctly knew the mode of its transmission but only 26 (16.6%) practiced the appropriate preventive measures. Of the study population 99 (52%) had previous history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and 120 (63%) had multiple sexual partners among whom 94 (78%) had not used condom because 34 (39%) did not know the role of condom. Similarly, 64 (34%) were not volunteer to use condom, and 25 (13%) did not know what condom is, in spite of the fact that 181 (95%) have heard of HIV/AIDS and 169 (89%) knew unprotected sex as its usual route of transmission. One hundred sixty nine (89%) knew that HIV is preventable and the perceived preventive measures were mainly 1:1 sexual partner in 140 (74%) and use of condom in 98 (52%) whereas 14 (7%) had no idea about HIV prevention methods. The majority, 167 (88%) considered HIV a real national problem.


CONCLUSIONS
The study population's level of protective behaviour against HIV and TB transmission is very low. Measures need to be taken to ensure 100% condom availability. Massive campaigns are required to make condom use socially acceptable. Health education on prevention of HIV and TB transmission should be strengthened to achieve an acceptable level of protective behaviour against these diseases.
Degefa
Tilahun
T
Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty, P.O. Box, 6616, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. tilahun_2005@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission