Knowledge and practice on HIV/AIDS infection prevention of public security cadres policemen in Hanoi

ABSTRACT

Study on 290 policemen in Hanoi suggested that almost policemen (96.9%) believed that HIV/AIDS is preventable. The policemen who had knowledge to avoid getting HIV from illegal drug users and HIV/AIDS patients were at a high rate (>90%) but the rate of full knowledge about HIV/AIDS was still low (82.1%). The source of information mainly came from media television (97.6%), newspaper (92.8%) and radio (83.4%). Almost policemen often had to get in touch with criminal persons (92.8%). 66.7% of them did not knew criminal persons with HIV/AIDS and 39.1% of policemen exposed with blood and body fluid of criminal persons due to trying arrest them. After exposing, most of policemen used themselves anti-infection chemical (56.6%) or did not be treated at all (43.4%). The rate of HIV/AIDS protection equipment was very low (22.8%). The main equipment is rubber gloves (87%).