title: The Association between Interrelationships and Linkages of Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its Related Risky Behaviors in People Living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: The relationship between knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its associated risky behaviors is complex and has not been sufficiently explored. It is especially important to look at some of the aspects of this relationship among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in order to develop effective intervention strategies to reduce HIV/AIDS risky behaviors. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its risky behaviors among PLWHA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Risk taking behavior among the participants was measured as the number of all risky behaviors before and after the knowledge of their HIV/AIDS positive status. Knowledge was measured by the extent to which participants answered the HIV/AIDS related questions. The relationships between the identified HIV/AIDS risky behaviors and the knowledge among PLWHA were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  341 questionnaires were administered and 326 (96%) were completed and returned from PLWHA clients of HIV/AIDS outreach facility in Alabama. Analysis revealed that, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and knowledge of a properly used condom in preventing the infection through sexual activity were positively related with knowledge of where to get tested for HIV/AIDS. Using drugs before sex was significantly related with having sex with prostitutes (total effects' standardized regression coefficient (TESRC)=0.29, p<0.001). Sharing the same syringe or needle with another person or other people to inject oneself was strongly related with number of sexual partners within one year (TESRC=0.25, p<0.001), and sex with injecting drug users (TESRC=0.45, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A deeper understanding of HIV/AIDS and some of its transmission pathways appears to be very effective in practicing the taking of preventive measures such as using condoms or getting tested for HIV. Increasing access to HIV/AIDS education could therefore be very useful in providing further gains in HIV/AIDS awareness among PLWHA.
authors: Professor and Director, Tuskegee University, Center for Computational Epidemiology, Bioinformatics and Risk Analysis, 107-Williams-Bowie Hall, College of Vet Med, Nursing and Allied Health (CVMNAH), Tuskegee, AL 36832, USA.
authors: Berhanu
authors: B
authors: Tameru
authors: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
authors: Gemechu
authors: G
authors: Gerbi
authors: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Nganwa
authors: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
authors: Asseged
authors: A
authors: Bogale
authors: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
authors: Vinaida
authors: V
authors: Robnett
authors: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
authors: Tsegye
authors: T
authors: Habtemariam
keywords: HIV/AIDS; People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); Psychosocial factors; Relationships; Risky behaviors