title: HIV/AIDS-associated beliefs and practices relating to diet and work in southeastern Uganda.
abstract: To explore beliefs relating to diet, work, and HIV/AIDS among the Busoga of rural southeastern Uganda, a cross-sectional survey of 322 adults was conducted in 2007 in Mayuge district, Uganda. Of these adults, 56 were HIV-infected, 120 had a family member with HIV/AIDS, and 146 were in households without HIV-infected members. More than 74.2% of the adults knew someone with HIV/AIDS, and more than 90% correctly identified transmission modes and prevention methods of HIV. In total, 93.2% believed that a person with HIV should work fewer hours to conserve energy but all the three participant groups reported the same working hours. Also, 91.6% believed that a person with HIV infection should eat special nutritious foods, and the participants with HIV infection reported eating more fruits (p=0.020) and vegetables (p=0.012) than other participants. The participants expressed a consistent set of health beliefs about practices relating to HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA.
authors.forename: Maction K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Komwa
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Dawn C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015658:HIV Infections; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014454:Uganda; D014675:Vegetables; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data