| dc.description.abstract | The sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HV) continues at an alarming rate in Sub-Saharan Africa despite high knowledge levels of HIV. Some factors such as socioeconomic, culture, conmiunication skills and perception of risk to HIV may be responsible for engaging in risky sexual behaviours.A cross sectional study of 200 persons who attended a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) with genital ulcer disease and gonorrhea was carried out between February and June 2001. This study was done at STD clinic at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Interviews were carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire.The study sought to; determine the knowledge of HIV and STD among patients with STD; establish the sexual patterns of patients with STD; determine perception of risk to HIV infection among STD patients; determine factors independently associated with risky sexual behaviour.Knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention was high(84.0%). A relationship existed between knowledge of STD before the current one and knowledge of relationship between STD and HIV [(OR 68.79, 95% CI (9.57, 140.75)]. A total of 159 (98.0%) patients reported having one sexual partner. Condom use was not associated with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.350). Results using a logistic regression analysis showed that patients with multiple partnership were more likely to be male, [OR 1.79, 95% CI (1.21, 2.66] and were more likely to drink alcohol [OR 1.88, 95% CI (1.25, 2.81]. Ninety-five (48.0%) of patients reported that they discussed sex with their partners. Discussion of sex among couples was independently associated with gender. Males were more likely to discuss sex, [OR 1.72, 95% CI (1.26, 2.35)]. Marital status- the single were less likely to discuss sex [OR 0.54, 95% CI (0.33, 0.90)]; while the married were 2.20 times more likely to discuss sex, [OR 2.20, 95% CI (1.44, 3.36)]. Educational status - those with primary education were less likely to discuss sex [OR 0.42, 95% CI (0.26,0.67)]; while those with secondary education were 1.26 times more likely to discuss sex, [OR 1.26, 95% CI (0.82, 193)]. One hundred and eighty nine (95.0%) of the patients were not aware of their HIV status. The factors independently associated with perception of risk to HIV infection were knowledge of relationship between HIV and STD, [OR 8.78, 95% CI(3.86, 19.97)] and positive history of STD, [OR 4.58, 95% CI (1.90, 11.06)].
High knowledge of HIV and perception of self as being at risk of contracting HIV does not necessarily translate into safer sex practices. Promoting a level ground in communication skills especially discussion of sex in various strata. | en_US |
