Abstract
Awareness is the key to prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is important to identify associated factors and the aim of the present paper was to explore AIDS awareness among the country representative male population in Bangladesh along with identifying the associated factors. To assess the AIDS awareness among ever-married men in Bangladesh, this study used data extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007. Of the 3771 ever-married men included in the study, most were Muslims (89.8%) and from rural areas (61.7%). Of the respondents, 85.9% had ever heard of AIDS. More than 70% of the respondents reported that a healthy looking person can have HIV, a person can get AIDS by using unsterilized needle or syringe and a person can get AIDS through unsafe blood transfusions, but always using condoms during sex and having single sex partner who has no other partner might reduce chances of getting AIDS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that AIDS awareness was strongly and positively associated with education of the respondents, varied significantly across different parts of the country. AIDS awareness was higher among urban residents than rural, and among them who had access to newspaper or magazine, television and radio than those who had not. AIDS awareness may be further increased providing easy access to education, mass-media, and promotion of condom use for prevention of AIDS in Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/mediscope.v1i1.21630 Mediscope Vol. 1, No. 1: 2014, Pages 1-13
Highlights
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been among the most serious disasters in recent centuries
The respondents who had ever heard of AIDS were asked whether a person looking healthy can have HIV
Affordable and complete cure for HIV/ AIDS and an effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection may not be available in the near future, primary prevention to control the spread of HIV infection can be achieved through awareness and changing behaviour remains at the highest priority for HIV control programmes
Summary
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been among the most serious disasters in recent centuries. It is a major public health concern today. AIDS does not discriminate between classes, castes or community people. Dr Easin Ali Gazi MBBS, MPH, Prof. (CC), Department of Community Medicine, Gazi Medical College, Khulna 3. (CC), Department of Surgery, Gazi Medical College, Khulna 4. Prof., MH Samorita Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka which is transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse. The most challenging task is how to prepare ourselves to be able to prevent HIV/ AIDS. The spread of transmission from urban and metropolitan areas to rural areas is a matter of great concern and the infection is spreading to the general population covering all segments of society.[1]
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