Knowledge, attitude, and practice about AIDS and condom utilization among health workers in Rwanda

Health workers in rural Rwanda were surveyed cross-sectionally on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about AIDS, HIV, and condom utilization. Participants were 350 health workers from six randomly chosen communities (three rural, three semirural). In general, knowledge about HIV/AIDS was moderate to good, with an average of 63% of the questions answered correctly; men (and younger respondents) had a better knowledge than did women (p =.01; older participants, p =.015). However, in the specific area of HIV/AIDS symptoms, knowledge was inadequate. In general, the attitude of health workers toward condoms was not sufficiently positive. Regular use of condoms was reported by 17%; the only variable significantly associated with condom use was having more than one partner during the past year. Men and those who scored high on knowledge had a more positive attitude toward infected individuals than did women (p =.003) and those with less knowledge (p =.001). In conclusion, there is an urgent need to institute educational programs to reduce the stigma about condoms among health workers in Rwanda.