Abstract
Background: Integration of STD/HIV services into maternal and child health services is an important strategy in STD/HIV prevention in the community. Assessing the base line knowledge of primary health care workers on STD/HIV is crucial in successful implementation of the above strategy. Objective: To assess the STD/HIV knowledge among primary health care workers in a selected district. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 255 primary health care workers using the convenient sampling method in Gampaha district. Data were collected by using a self administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 17. Results: The majority of the sample (31.4%) was between 40- 49 years and consisted mainly of public health midwives (86.7%).The highest percentage (34.9%) had worked in the current position for more than 20 years. Only 29% of the sample knew all four methods of HIV transmission. The majority (82.4%) rejected all misconceptions of HIV transmission. The majority (>80%) had satisfactory knowledge on HIV transmission in health care setting. Only a very small number (0.4%) knew the commonest symptoms of STIs. A small percentage of the sample (12.5%) had the knowledge on MTCT of STIs and only 18.8% knew stages of MTCT of HIV. Although the majority (83.9%) knew that VDRL should be performed early in pregnancy 62% of the sample was unaware why it is done. Conclusions: The knowledge of primary health care workers on MTCT of STI/HIV, testing, necessary referral is not satisfactory. Recommendations: well structured sustainable programmes should be conducted. The curriculum should be updated. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljv.v3i1.5411 Sri Lanka Journal of Venereology Vol.3(1) 2012 pp.38-40
Highlights
Around 340 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to have occurred throughout the world in 2005 in men and women aged 15-49years
Most sexually transmitted diseases including HIV are known to be transmitted from an infected pregnant mother to her newborn
Numerous international health and development organizations have called for integration of STD, HIV/AIDS, family planning and maternal and child health services (MCH) programmes. (2)
Summary
Integration of STD/HIV services into maternal and child health services is an important strategy in STD/HIV prevention in the community. Assessing the base line knowledge of primary health care workers on STD/HIV is crucial in successful implementation of the above strategy
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