Knowledge and attitude on HIV/AIDS prevention of injection drug addicts in Dien Bien & Dong Thap provinces

ABSTRACT

Background: Today, the incidence of HIV has a tendency to increase in high risk population and other populations in Vietnam. HIV epidemic in Vietnam is closely assocciated with the situation of injection drug addicts and female sex workers. Objective: To study knowledge and attitude on HIV/AIDS prevention of injection drug addicts in Dien Bien & Dong Thap provinces. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, investigation using the questionnaire of the Ministry of Health was conducted in 731 injection drug addicts in the 9 districts/towns in \u0110ien Bien province (Dien Bien Phu town, Dien Bien, Tuan Giao, Phong Tho and Muong Lay district) and Dong Thap province (Cao Lanh town, Sa Dec, Hong Ngu and Tam Nong district), from August/2004 to January/2005. Results and Conclusion: 71.5%-81.3% of injection drug addicts had correct knowledge about the ways of HIV/AIDS transmission. 65.2%-79.9% of injection drug addicts knew HIV/AIDS prevention methods. 98.5% of injection drug addicts said that thay had been ready to look after their relatives infected with HIV/AIDS. 71.4%-98.7% ofinjection drug addictshad the attitude of keeping normal relationship with HIV infected subjects. 76.7% of injection drug addicts agreed that teachers with HIV could continute to teach.