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Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices about HIV/AIDS in Kuwait
R al-Owaish1, M A Moussa, S Anwar
1Department of Community Health, Al Shamieh, Kuwait.
Summary
This survey assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Kuwait. While many knew transmission modes, misconceptions persisted, impacting behavior and attitudes toward patients.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Understanding public knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) regarding Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.
- In 1995, a survey was conducted in Kuwait to gauge the KABP of the general population concerning HIV/AIDS, excluding health professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to HIV/AIDS among the adult population in Kuwait.
- To identify factors associated with HIV/AIDS knowledge and behavioral intentions.
- To evaluate public satisfaction with government AIDS control programs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1995 involving 2,219 participants aged 18-60.
- Face-to-face interviews were administered using a structured questionnaire covering HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practices, sociodemographics, religion, information sources, and program satisfaction.
- Statistical analyses, including multiple regression and logistic regression, were employed to identify associations.
Main Results:
- Two-thirds of participants demonstrated good knowledge of primary HIV/AIDS transmission routes.
- Knowledge scores positively correlated with education, age, duration of awareness about AIDS, and socioeconomic status.
- Factors associated with reluctance to change behavior included being under 40, lower education, female gender, single status, lower socioeconomic status, shorter awareness period, and low knowledge levels.
Conclusions:
- While awareness of main HIV/AIDS transmission modes was prevalent, gaps in knowledge regarding non-transmissible routes existed, influencing attitudes and practices towards individuals with AIDS.
- The study highlights the need for enhanced roles of medical professionals, mass media, and religious institutions in HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts in Kuwait.