Impact of AIDS on patients attending the family physician - abstract

ABSTRACT

For four weeks during March and April 19, this study on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of patients in relation to AIDS was carried out in three government-operated Family Medicine Centres in Barbados. Persons between the ages of 16 and 60 years, who agreed to take part, were interviewed, using a standardised pretested coded questionnaire. Of three hundred and thirty-seven patients who were interviewed, 134 were males and 203 females. One hundred and seventy-six patients (52 percent) identified AIDS as an STD, more often than syphilis or gonorrhoea was so identified. On the other hand, only 117, (35 percent), said it was true that "a person with the AIDS virus may remain in good health for many years". Fifty-two percent of patients said that TV contributed a lot to their knowledge of AIDS; 42 percent said radio contribute a lot, but only 7 percent said the doctor, nurse or clinic setting taught them a lot. In respect of lifestyle change, 81 percent knew that using a condom reduced the chances of getting AIDS, yet only 18 percent were currently using condoms. Similarly, 88 percent knew that reducing the number of sexual partners was important, whilst 51 percent only said that "since the AIDS epidemic they now have less sexual partners". The main conclusion is that the Primary Care Team has an important support role in AIDS education, which at this time is not being carried out in Barbados (AU)