title: Evaluation of HIV and AIDS knowledge in rural Cameroon men with the use of a questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV/AIDS, the most important health problem in Africa, is the leading cause of death on the continent. Ignorance on HIV/AIDS status will hamper treatment and prevention. To investigate the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among men in a rural area, we performed a questionnaire study on HIV/AIDS knowledge in men living in Banga Bakundu, a rural village in Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight men, aged 17-66 years, were interviewed. They were divided in 2 groups: ≤ 29 years, being those young enough to be able to have knowledge about HIV/AIDS at the time of their first sexual contact, and those > 29 years who weren't. A semi-structured clinical interview was performed to obtain information about socio-demographic characteristics, sexual activity, knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is an overall good HIV/AIDS knowledge and what should be done about it. Men with a higher level of education and more HIV/AIDS knowledge seem to take less preventive measures. The differentiation per age group showed that age influenced the data on knowledge and behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data are consistent with other studies. Remarkable is the difference in HIV/AIDS knowledge between the 2 age groups, and the relation between HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual habits and prevention. Sufficient HIV/AIDS knowledge did not lead to significant changes in sexual behaviour. The questionnaire showed to provide sufficient information and was easy to use. Further research should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Apostolic Hospital, Banga Bakundu, Cameroon ; Present: medical student, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hendt Paul
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Versteegh
authors.affiliation: Apostolic Hospital, Banga Bakundu, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Affuenti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakia
authors.affiliation: Leiden University, Department of Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hendrik Maria
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.affiliation: Leiden University, Department of Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kraaij
authors.affiliation: Apostolic Hospital, Banga Bakundu, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Florens Gerard Adriaan
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Versteegh
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cameroon; HIV/AIDS knowledge; age; men