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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sadrivaan A and B (The Hilton Istanbul Hotel )
Background: Increasingly, non-professionals are entering the HIV workforce as part of peer outreach and/or vocational programs- as both the recipients and implementers of programming. Often, these individuals are in “high risk” themselves. As they transition into the public health workforce, their health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior are of interest.
Methods: Quantitative surveys were administered to a snowball sample of youth aged 18-25 from HIV/AIDS-related organizations in Delhi, India (N=145). Descriptive analyses of socio-demographics, HIV knowledge, communication, stigma (scale alpha: 0.74), as well as behaviors were undertaken. Multivariate regression analysis determined correlates of consistent condom use.
Results: Females comprised 42.8% of respondents (mean age: 22 years, median education: secondary, mean household monthly income: 800 USD). Four in five had transmission knowledge while 48.2% knew modes of HIV prevention. HIV communication was with friends (69.7%), health care providers (HCP) (39.3%) and family (19.3%). All respondents felt that People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) deserve medication; only 7% objected to working with PLWHA. Yet, 39.1% felt that PLWHA are punished by God and 31.3% felt PLWHA should be ashamed. Just under 40% of respondents have tested for HIV (4.1% tested positive). About 50% of sexually active respondents used condoms every time (20% said never). At 90% confidence, the odds of consistent condom use increased with age (OR: 1.3 p=0.08) communication with parents (OR: 7.43, p=0.01) and HCP (OR: 5.91, p=0.02). Consistent condom decreased with higher income (OR: 0.99, p=0.07), prevention knowledge (OR: 0.33, p=0.08) and higher stigma (OR: 0.67, p=0.05).
Conclusion: Working in the HIV sector doesn’t guarantee high knowledge, low stigma, or consistent HIV protective behavior. Communication and lower stigma are correlates of protective behavior. Indian youth working on HIV must be encouraged to talk to their families and HCPs; HIV education and stigma reduction strategies catering to them must intensify.
Methods: Quantitative surveys were administered to a snowball sample of youth aged 18-25 from HIV/AIDS-related organizations in Delhi, India (N=145). Descriptive analyses of socio-demographics, HIV knowledge, communication, stigma (scale alpha: 0.74), as well as behaviors were undertaken. Multivariate regression analysis determined correlates of consistent condom use.
Results: Females comprised 42.8% of respondents (mean age: 22 years, median education: secondary, mean household monthly income: 800 USD). Four in five had transmission knowledge while 48.2% knew modes of HIV prevention. HIV communication was with friends (69.7%), health care providers (HCP) (39.3%) and family (19.3%). All respondents felt that People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) deserve medication; only 7% objected to working with PLWHA. Yet, 39.1% felt that PLWHA are punished by God and 31.3% felt PLWHA should be ashamed. Just under 40% of respondents have tested for HIV (4.1% tested positive). About 50% of sexually active respondents used condoms every time (20% said never). At 90% confidence, the odds of consistent condom use increased with age (OR: 1.3 p=0.08) communication with parents (OR: 7.43, p=0.01) and HCP (OR: 5.91, p=0.02). Consistent condom decreased with higher income (OR: 0.99, p=0.07), prevention knowledge (OR: 0.33, p=0.08) and higher stigma (OR: 0.67, p=0.05).
Conclusion: Working in the HIV sector doesn’t guarantee high knowledge, low stigma, or consistent HIV protective behavior. Communication and lower stigma are correlates of protective behavior. Indian youth working on HIV must be encouraged to talk to their families and HCPs; HIV education and stigma reduction strategies catering to them must intensify.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the need to examine HIV related behaviors of youth involved with HIV programming 2. Determine what the levels of knowledge, stigma and HIV protective behavior are among such a group of HIV involved youth in Delhi, India 3. Analyze the correlates of HIV protective behavior in this group to guide future programming in the urban South Asian context
Sub-Theme: Training multidisciplinary health workers
See more of: Poster: Training Multidisciplinary Health Workers
See more of: Public Health Education for the 21st Century
See more of: Public Health Education for the 21st Century