RESEARCH ON RISKY BEHAVIOUR AND HIV PREVALENCE INFECTION AMONG FISHERMEN IN KIEN GIANG PROVINCE - 2007

ABSTRACT

Background: There is limited study on risk behavior and HIV in fishermen. Objective: To define risky behavior and HIV among fishermen in Kien Giang. Subject and Method: Cross - sectional survey on 499 fishermen in Kien Giang. Results: The average age was 28.9, and approximately 43.5% were not married. Almost all were educated to primary and secondary level, while the illiterate ones accounted for 9.0%. The average age when people had sex for the first time was 19.7. The rate of drug abuse was 0.8%, but none of them injected drug. The number of people who thoroughly understood about HIV preventions accounted for 79.8%. A majority of people who answered showed positive attitude towards PLWA, 95.1 % of whom implied that they were ready to take care of HIV - infected family members. However there was about 77.8%, people who wanted to keep their infection status confidential. The proportion of people always using condom when having sex with CSWs during the past 12 months was only 65.9%. The rate of people who already had an HIV test was 11.2% and the rate of HIV infection among the target group accounted for 0.6%. Conclusion: Direct communication model with the message on using condoms when having sex and consultation for examination is suggested for prevention on HIV/AIDS in fishermen.