ABSTRACT
Indonesia's total number of HIV/AIDS cases is still high. Inadequate knowledge about the risk of HIV infection will influence HIV prevention and therapy. This study aimed to map the level of HIV-related knowledge among Indonesians living on six major islands in Indonesia and investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and HIV/AIDS knowledge. This cross-sectional study used the Bahasa Indonesia version of the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire-18 items (HIV-KQ-18) Instrument. Data collection was done online through the Google form application. A total of 5,364 participants were recruited. The participants from Java had the highest degree of HIV/AIDS knowledge, which was 12.5% higher than participants from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and Maluku. Linear regression showed that region, educational level, monthly expenditure, occupation, background in health sciences, and workshop attendance were significantly correlated with HIV knowledge. Participants typically understand that "HIV/AIDS transmission" only happens when sex partners are changed. Additionally, the government still needs improvement in HIV/AIDS education, particularly in the HIV incubation period, HIV transmission from pregnant women to the fetus, and condom use as one method of protection. There are disparities in HIV/AIDS knowledge levels among the major islands of Indonesia. Based on these findings, the government's health promotion program to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS must be implemented vigorously. Additionally, in line with our research findings, it is essential to broaden the scope of HIV/AIDS education and promotion materials.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , HIV Infections , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/epidemiology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Indonesia/epidemiology , HIV , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite a global decline in new HIV/AIDS cases in low-middle countries, cases are increasing in Indonesia. Low knowledge about the disease among the general population is one of the major factors responsible for this trend. Indonesia does not have a validated instrument to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge. The HIV Knowledge Questionnaire-18 (HIV-KQ-18) has been translated into several languages and is one of the most extensively used instruments for assessing HIV/AIDS knowledge. This paper describes the process of adapting and validating the HIV-KQ-18, an instrument to assess the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge in the general population of Indonesia. METHODS: In the adaptation phase, feedback for the initial Bahasa Indonesia version was gathered from two HIV activists, an obstetrician, two general practitioners, and 60 pilot participants. At the validation stage, we distributed the instrument link via Google Form to 6 major regions in Indonesia. Validity was measured using known-group validity and construct validity. The construct validity was assessed using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a polychoric correlation matrix. Cronbach's alpha was used to analyze the internal consistency. RESULTS: Based on the findings in the adaptation phase, additional descriptions (namely synonyms or examples) were added to 6 items to make them more understandable. In the validation phase, 1,249 participants were recruited. The a priori hypothesis in known-group validity was supported. We also found three items that did not meet the construct validity. Based on the acceleration factor approach to interpret the scree tree in the factor analysis, using only two factors was preferable. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.75 and 0.71 representing good internal reliability. CONCLUSION: The HIV-KQ-18 Bahasa Indonesia is considered a valid and reliable instrument to assess the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge in Indonesia.
