Impact of health education on prostitutes' awareness and attitudes to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Abstract

767 female prostitutes in Maiduguri, Nigeria responded to a questionnaire on AIDS. Their motives and activities, awareness of HIV, transmission, prevention, and cure of AIDS and attitudes towards HIV carriers were examined. Researchers administered this questionnaire after the prostitutes had attended health education sessions on AIDS. Approximately 78% of the prostitutes were under 30 years old and 72.6% were married or had been married. 74.58% were mothers. 27% originated from neighboring countries. Patrons included civil servants, businessmen, petty traders, and craftsmen. On average, each prostitute entertained 3.3 customers/day and had sex with 1046 customers/year. 85.92% of the prostitutes claimed financial reasons such as supporting their children, for practicing prostitution. The majority of the women indicated that they generally received injections of antibiotics to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) via reused syringes and needles. 7.04% admitted to having had an STD in the past, but the researchers believe the percentage is too low. No prostitute claimed to use any hard drugs. Even though the prostitutes were receptive to health education, only 7.1% remembered that AIDS is caused by a virus and 84.3% just could not remember the causative agent. The majority (75.7%) did remember that sexual intercourse is a mode of transmission, but only 50% realized that infected blood and blood products were modes of transmission. The majority of the prostitutes indicated that they would use a condom when having sex. In addition, all stated that, if they later learn that they carry HIV, they would stop practicing prostitution. Most of the women wanted some form of restriction for HIV carriers, such as confinement or hospitalization until a cure is found. These results suggest that health education is needed and must reach the general population.