Nasir Jamal1, Imdad A Khushk, Zahid Naeem. 1. Public Health Specialist, Sindh Anti TB Association/Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, Hyderabad, Sindh.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS among female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) in Hyderabad City, Sindh, Pakistan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Red light area of Hyderabad City, Sindh, Pakistan, from March to July 2004. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A pre-designed questionnaire was administered to see the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDs among FCSWs. In this regard, a total of 61 FCSWs were interviewed after getting informed consent. RESULTS: Mean age of the FCSWs was 27 years. Majority was uneducated and unmarried. All respondents had heard the word AIDS but no one knew about the word HIV as well as its meaning. All respondents believed that AIDS is a preventable disease and they knew some method of prevention. Television was most common source of knowledge. FCSWs had inadequate knowledge in terms of signs and symptoms and the treatment of disease. CONCLUSION: FCSWs of the Hyderabad city had insufficient knowledge and various misconceptions regarding AIDS. Therefore, there is a need for their education and improvement in socioeconomic status. There is also the need of further studies with substantial statistical work to generate more accurate data in this regard.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS among female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) in Hyderabad City, Sindh, Pakistan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Red light area of Hyderabad City, Sindh, Pakistan, from March to July 2004. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A pre-designed questionnaire was administered to see the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDs among FCSWs. In this regard, a total of 61 FCSWs were interviewed after getting informed consent. RESULTS: Mean age of the FCSWs was 27 years. Majority was uneducated and unmarried. All respondents had heard the word AIDS but no one knew about the word HIV as well as its meaning. All respondents believed that AIDS is a preventable disease and they knew some method of prevention. Television was most common source of knowledge. FCSWs had inadequate knowledge in terms of signs and symptoms and the treatment of disease. CONCLUSION: FCSWs of the Hyderabad city had insufficient knowledge and various misconceptions regarding AIDS. Therefore, there is a need for their education and improvement in socioeconomic status. There is also the need of further studies with substantial statistical work to generate more accurate data in this regard.
Authors: Mohammad A Rai; Vivek R Nerurkar; Suhail Khoja; Saeed Khan; Richard Yanagihara; Arish Rehman; Shahana U Kazmi; Syed H Ali Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2010-01-12 Impact factor: 3.090