Knowledge, attitude, practice and behaviour among attendants of HIV/AIDS patients in Mandalay General Hospital

HIV/AIDS epidemic is a global phenomena, still highly dynamic unstable and challenging the world. Coping with this problems entirely depends on changing individual and collective human behaviour. A total of 144 attendants of hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients were interviewed in Medical Unit II, Mandalay General Hospital with questionnaire to obtain information for his KAPB study of HIV/AIDS disease. This was a one year study starting from august 1995. Most of them knew mode of transmissions were by sex and improperly sterlized syringes and needles, ie., 77.74 per cent. Regarding the major diagnostic criteria for AIDS, 55.3 per cent, 30.49 per cent and 30.48 per cent of attendants could identify weight loss, chronic diarrhoea and fever more than one months as criteria. It is surprising that only 36.17 per cent and 46.42 per cent of attendants knew that condom use and gloves can prevent the transmission of disease. About 23.88 per cent of them have never heard about HIV/AIDS. but 25.27 per cent of attendants obtained information about HIV/AIDS from TV and Video. 13.43 per cent from magazines. 20 per cent from third person and 7.46 per cent from newspapers. Most of them felt that HIV/AIDS is a stigmata disease as 72.91 per cent of people think that they will be outcasts and 72.41 per cent felt they will lose their jobs if they have such disease. It is encouraging to know that approximately 65 per cent of attendants did not reject their patients and were willing to stay in the same house with them. Some of them have risk behaviour like IVDU (1.37 per cent) at one time, 26.20 per cent have experienced with extramarital sex and 2.75 per cent never used condom in extramarital sex. It is interesting that 64.88 per cent of people have had first sexual experience before the age of 25 and 20.13 per cent have had before 18 years of age. It seems that the level of knowledge of the public regarding HIV/AIDS is still insufficient and unsatisfactory. We need to give intensive health education aimed at target groups and emphasis should be on the under 18 age group.

A Clinical profile of HIV infection in Mandalay General Hospital (one year study from 16-9-94)

It is now recognised that HIV infection is increasing and a major cause for concern in Myanmar. There is no cure for HIV infection and the only hope of controlling the AIDS epidemic have a responsibility to understand the relevant facts about HIV and to act as educators for their patients. A prospective one year study of HIV seropositive patients admitted to medical unit two of Mandalay General Hospital was commenced on September 1994. The objectives of this study was to study the demographic data, the personal history and clinical presentations of these patients so as to enable the health professionals and health educators to understand more about HIV infection in Myanmar. A total of 62, HIV seropositive patients were included in this study. 48 patients (77.4 percent) were diagnosed as AIDS according to the Myanmar diagnostic criteria. The amle female ratio was 9.3:1, 75.8 percent were in the 21-40 years of age group, 48 percent were single, 48 percent were gave history of travel to Pharkant Town in Kachin State. 77.4 percent were from Mandalay Division. 56.4 percent wre labourers, hawkers and had no fixed work. 59.7 percent were IVDU. 51.6 percent had multiple sex partners. Of the major criteria prolonged fever was present in 82 percent, marked weight loss 74 percent and chronic diarrhoea 38.7 percent. Of the minor criteria, oral thrush was present in 66 percent, lymphadenopathy 40 percent and persistent cough 32 percent. the commonest associated diseases were Koch's lungs 17.7 percent and uncomplicated malaria 16 percent followed by cerebral malaria 9.7 percent and meningitis 8.1 percent. 3.7 percent had cryptococcal meningitis. Mortality was 41.9 percent. The mainstay of prevention continues to be health education campaigns based around the message of safer sex. It is recommended that health education programs be enhanced in Myanmar.