title: Public knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy in Kabarole district, western Uganda.
abstract: A study on knowledge about HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (ART) was conducted in the general population of a rural district in western Uganda. Three hundred seventy-two participants were selected by random cluster sampling and interviewed with an interview-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed quantitatively with descriptive, univariate and linear multivariate statistical analysis with the knowledge score about ART as the dependent variable. The results indicate that the mean knowledge was 7.7 in a scale from 0 to 13. Predictor for better ART knowledge was a higher educational status of the participants. Older participants over 50 years were less ART knowledgeable. Only 19% of the participants have been tested for HIV. The conclusions are that the ART knowledge in this population is remarkably high which is reaffirming and important for achieving a high adherence to ART. Of concern is the low proportion of persons tested for HIV in this general population. Kabarole district seems to be receptive and capable for intensifying HIV testing which is a precondition for the ART roll-out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. walter.kipp@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Walter Eigen
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Kipp
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alibhai
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konde-Lule
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruhunda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult