title: HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among a group of Iraqis.
abstract: This study aimed to build a baseline profile of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Iraqis toward HIV/AIDS. Questionnaire interviews were conducted in 2006 with 335 people attending HIV testing centres in Baghdad. Most respondents (82.7%) had heard about AIDS, mainly from the mass media (71.0%), and 91.9% knew that AIDS is an infectious disease, most commonly via sexual relationships (74.9%). There was no association between knowledge level and acceptance of caring for an HIV-positive relative or marrying an HIV-positive partner, but there was a significant association between low knowledge level and negative attitudes towards sharing food, sitting on the bus and working at the same place with an HIV-positive individual.
authors.affiliation: Al-Risafa Directorate of Health, Primary Health Care Division, HIV/AIDS Control Department, Baghdad, Iraq. hayawi2004@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hayyawi
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Al-Marayaty
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hamed
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D012307:Risk Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data