Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the coverage of HIV health education among rural residents in western China by ascertaining their awareness of HIV/AIDS and its transmission routes, and to investigate how these residents receive health information.MethodsA survey was conducted through stratified clustered sampling at 99 county hospitals in 11 provinces in western China. Information was collected on awareness of HIV/AIDS and its transmission routes, as well as residents’ access to health knowledge. Chi-square analysis was used to analyse the differences in HIV/AIDS awareness (knowing of the existence of HIV/AIDS, hereinafter referred to as “HIV awareness rate”) between different subgroups categorized by demographic status, regional factors, and different methods of access to health knowledge. To further analyse the effects of access to health knowledge on HIV awareness, a logistic regression model was established. The relationship between access to health knowledge and transmission routes was also examined using chi-square analysis.ResultsThe HIV awareness rate of the total 9274 participants was 80.9%. There were statistically significant differences between subgroups classified by age (χ2 = 482.118, p<0.001), education (χ2 = 853.465, p<0.001), occupation (χ2 = 340.553, p<0.001), income (χ2 = 186.448, p<0.001), cumulative HIV cases according to province (χ2 = 59.513, p<0.001), per capita annual net income of rural households according to province (χ2 = 64.676, p<0.001), proportion of minority population according to province (χ2 = 94.898, p<0.001), direct access to health knowledge (medical staff: χ2 = 419.775, p<0.001; mass media: χ2 = 740.238, p<0.001; family members: χ2 = 12.189, p<0.001; socializing: χ2 = 48.780, p<0.001; health education activities: χ2 = 154.400, p<0.001), and indirect access to health knowledge (having a non-communicable disease with medical instructions χ2 = 78.709, p<0.001; physical examinations: χ2 = 135.679, p<0.001). The logistic regression model showed that education and mass media had the strongest impacts on HIV awareness among all methods of access. Participants had the least awareness of HIV’s mother-to-child transmission route.ConclusionThe HIV awareness rate indicated that previous HIV health education covered 80% of the rural population in western China. Mass media should take greater responsibility in HIV health education for the general population, and special attention should be paid to the elderly, the most impoverished population, minority community as well as the mother-to-child transmission route.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coverage of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) health education among rural residents in western China by ascertaining their awareness of HIV/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its transmission routes, and to investigate how these residents receive health information
For the 9274 participants, HIV awareness rate was 80.9% [95% CI: 80.1–81.7%]
HIV awareness rate declined with increasing age, from 88.7% in young people (16–40 years) to 75.1% in middle-aged individuals (40–60 years), and 65.1% in the elderly (χ2 = 482.118, p
Summary
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coverage of HIV health education among rural residents in western China by ascertaining their awareness of HIV/AIDS and its transmission routes, and to investigate how these residents receive health information. Since the first case was diagnosed in Beijing in 1985, the Chinese government added requirements for health education to all national planning documents. It was not until the outbreak of HIV/AIDS among intravenous drug users (IDU) in Yunnan, a southwestern province, around 1990, that HIV awareness started to grow. In 1998, the government established basic principles for HIV/STD health education, and published an official handbook of basic information on HIV/AIDS [3]. In this way, China built up a clear policy framework for HIV health education
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
