Knowledge and attitudes of Senegalese sailors about HIV/AIDS.
BACKGROUND
In West Africa there is little information on the behavior of sailors with respect to HIV/AIDS.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes on HIV/AIDS and their risk factors.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study on a sample of 400 sailors. Information was collected on knowledge and attitudes. Multiple logistic regression was performed to analyse the factors related to knowledge and attitudes.


RESULTS
The mean age was 38.1 ± 9.8 years. Among sailors, 7.5% knew the 3 main modes of HIV transmissionand 48.3% did not sail with a crew member infected with HIV. Knowledge was related to occupationalcategory (OR = 14.07 [5.40-36.65]). Stigmatisation was related to education (OR = 0.45 [0.27-0.74]) and fear (0.19 [0.09-0.41]).


CONCLUSIONS
Sailors have a low level of knowledge and negative attitudes towards people living with HIV. Intervention simplemented must take into account the low level of knowledge and the mobility of the target population.
Institut of Health and Development, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal; University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. adama.faye@umontreal.ca.
Adama
A
Faye
Mame Diarra
MD
Faye
Mamadou Makhtar
MM
Leye
Ibraima
I
Seck
Anta
A
Tal-Dia
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005239:Fear; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012675:Senegal; D012767:Ships; D013240:Stereotyping