Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence is relatively lower in Sri Lanka than in other Asian countries; however, the number of HIV-infected persons has rapidly increased in recent years. A baseline study on HIV, acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS), and sexually transmitted infections (STI) knowledge, attitude, and practice was conducted at two construction sites in Sri Lanka from January to February 2007 to design an effective intervention strategy for the construction workers. Among 611 respondents (mostly males, mean age 32.8 years), nearly two-thirds lived away from home. Knowledge was fairly good on AIDS prevention but poorer on STI than on HIV. Some misconceptions were also observed. A high percentage did not consider HIV/AIDS as their own personal issue, and over 50% respondents expressed discriminatory attitudes towards HIV positives. Condom access was limited due to social and cultural norms. Mobility was not significantly associated with practice of prevention of HIV and STI. This study showed that the construction workers were not specially at higher risk of HIV at that time. In order to minimize the potential risk of infection, however, it would be effective to reduce stigma and discrimination among them through the prevention program, working together with community or religious leaders in the areas. More comprehensive assessment among other population groups would also be beneficial to identify their risk of infection.
Highlights
As of the end of 2007, the estimated number of people over 15 years old who are infected with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sri Lanka is 3,800, and HIV prevalence is less than 0.1% [1]
HIV prevalence is relatively lower in Sri Lanka than in other Asian countries, the number of HIV-infected persons has rapidly increased in recent years, from 68 cases in 2003 to 129 in 2005 [2]
After controlling for age, marital status, educational attainment, and occupation type, current residence was not significantly associated with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) practice. This is a preliminary study to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among Sri Lankan construction workers for HIV/AIDS, who may be vulnerable to HIV infection due to their work condition and mobility
Summary
As of the end of 2007, the estimated number of people over 15 years old who are infected with HIV in Sri Lanka is 3,800, and HIV prevalence is less than 0.1% [1]. The cumulative HIV and AIDS cases at the middle of year 2008 are 996 and 274, respectively [3] Risk factors such as low condom use, high STI prevalence, and domestic or international mobility are present in the country [4,5]; the future explosion of HIV to epidemic proportion might happen countrywide. In Asia, previous studies indicated that construction workers were characterized in general as male, less educated, young, single, and mobile [7,8] They were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours including having multiple casual sex partners, having sex with commercial sex workers, and poor condom use [9,10]. The plan includes short clauses on HIV/AIDS in the workplace [12], but there has been no systematic study regarding HIV/AIDS and construction workers in Sri Lanka. A baseline study was conducted to describe the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among workers and to identify the risk factors of HIV/AIDS at two construction sites in Southwest Sri Lanka
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