Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of PLHIV receiving treatment at Teku ART Site, Kathmandu

Abstract


 Background: HIV/AIDS has become a significant public health concern in Nepal. We have collected necessary information for assessing the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthy behavior of People living with HIV (PLHIV), who seek treatment from this study site.
 Methods: Hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice which were critical in saving lives of PLHIV receiving treatment at Teku ART site, Kathmandu. Total 90 respondents were administered semi-structured questionnaire. The data and information collected were entered by the researcher into Excel and then later analyzed using SPSS.
 Results: The study showed that maximum respondents were male and between the ages of 38-47 years. The level of knowledge on HIV infection among the respondents was satisfactory and the level of knowledge on healthy behavior for saving their lives was found to be average. The majority of the PLHIV were aware of one or the other healthy behavior, and only some had no knowledge of them. Maximum (65.6%) had no knowledge of opportunistic infections which can be a risk to PLHIV. Similarly, the attitude of all the respondents was positive towards that healthy behavior and a maximum of the respondents practice healthy behavior such as regular intake of medicine, safe sex practice, intake of nutritious food, personal hygiene in their daily lives. But still some behaviors such as regular exercise, prevention of opportunistic infections were not practiced by the respondents.
 Conclusion: The study concluded that level of knowledge among PLHIV regarding healthy behavior was found satisfactory. But still emphasis must be given on improving knowledge and practice on some behaviors such as regular exercise, prevention of opportunistic infections.