An Assessment of Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Slum and Non-Slum Populations in Delhi, India

Pravin K Jha,Saritha Nair,Damodar Sahu,Arvind Pandey,Padum Narayan,Deepika Ganju

doi:10.4236/ojpm.2015.56029

Abstract

In order to design appropriate HIV prevention programs, it is important to examine the perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and methods of preventive. This article explores comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among women and men in slum and non-slum areas in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Data were drawn from the National Family Health Survey, 2005-06 (NFHS-3). The sample included 3096 women aged 15 - 49 years and 1321 men aged 15 - 54 years. Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between the study variables and the background characteristics of the slum and non-slum populations. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods was significantly lower among women and men in slum areas as compared with non-slum areas. Compared to men, women had less comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods in slum and non-slum areas, even after controlling for various demographic and socio-economic and exposure variables. Findings indicate that comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention methods is low among women in slum areas. Interventions are needed to build knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention methods in this vulnerable group. Strategies to build awareness of HIV/AIDS could include mass media campaigns HIV/AIDS, and information, education and communication programs (IEC) on HIV/AIDS in slum areas.

Highlights

India, with a population of over 1.21 billion, [1] is the second most populous country in the world [2]
The National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi is one state of India where about 98 per cent of the population lives in urban areas, and 15 per cent of urban households live in slums, which is about 3 per cent in India’s slum population [1] [5]
A higher percentage of younger than older women were aware of HIV/AIDS; a reverse pattern was observed in non-slum areas (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

With a population of over 1.21 billion, [1] is the second most populous country in the world [2]. India has the second largest slum population after China [4] with 17.4 per cent of the urban population living in slum areas in 2011, which was about 15 per cent in 2001 [1]. Around 38 per cent of the population lives in 46 million-plus cities [5] Such unprecedented urban population growth is attributed to greater job opportunities in metro cities pulling unemployed poor people from different regions of country for employment and livelihood [5]. These migrants are often from tribal and rural communities, with a low level of education and skills.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion