title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices on HIV / AIDS in the south region of Cameroon: case of the town of Kribi.
abstract: The aim of our study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding HIV/AIDS in the city of Kribi, southern region of Cameroon. In November 2012, a questionnaire composed of 20 items was administered by trained staff from the Biomedical Sciences Department of the University of Dschang to 200 students selected from four population groups: high school students, local traders, tourism personnel (staff of bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs), and motorcycle taxi drivers. A cluster sampling method was used to select the first three groups while motorcycle taxi drivers were selected by the method of all comers. KAP regarding HIV/AIDS was found to be fragmentary in the studied population. Only 6.5% systematically uses condoms, 59% believe that AIDS can be cured by traditional medicine and religious faith and 40.9% developed stigmatizing behaviour toward HIV infected people. Among participants there is a wide discrepancy between knowledge and social behaviours toward HIV/AIDS. Strategic and continuous awareness campaigns that are culturally and socially tailored are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sobze Martin
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sanou
authors.affiliation: Chantal Biya International Reference Centre (CIRCB) for research on HIV/AIDS, prevention and management, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Joseph Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fokam
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Biguioh Rodriguez
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Mabvouna
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Wadoum Raoul
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Guetiya
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Ben Bechir Adogaye
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Tessa Vivaldi Vladimir
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Teikeu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sonkeng Sonia
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nafack
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Studi Sanitari &quot;Giuseppe Cannarella&quot;, Roma.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panà
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colizzi
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo