KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND RISK BEHAVIOUR IN RELATION TO AIDS/HIV AMONG RECRUITS OF A REGIMENTAL CENTRE

A cross-sectional study to find out the knowledge, attitudes beliefs and certain behaviours in relation to HIV/AIDS among military recruits in a regimental centre was carried out in two stages. In the first stage all recruits reporting to a regimental centre between January-December 97, (n=913), were given a closed questionnaire to be completed anonymously. In the second stage 236 recruits were randomly selected for more detailed analysis for studying relationship of factors such as urban/rural residence, age and education with knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in relation to AIDS. Though there was a fairly good awareness of sexual routes of transmission only 38.88% of recruits were aware of parenteral routes of transmission. Only 47.75% of the recruits were aware of healthy carriers or asymptomatic transmission. Much gap between knowledge and practice of condom use was observed. About 17% of the recruits believed that AIDS is curable and 21.58% believed it to be non-fatal. Sociodemographic factors like urban/rural residence, age and education had little bearing on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.