Travel-Related AIDS Awareness Among Young Gulf Arab Men

Background: The Federal Ministry of Health of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a vigorous AIDS control programme that conforms to international guidelines. Available information on HIV infection in the Al Ain district (UAE) shows a low incidence among its citizens and a low frequency of spread by the sexual route. This is in keeping with cultural factors perceived to have withstood the potential for sexual spread in the Arabian Gulf area. However, there is an acknowledged concern for the risk to young male citizens while traveling abroad to popular destinations such as India, Thailand, and the Philippines. Methods: The authors attempted to determine the knowledge and attitude about AIDS among Emirati males (aged 18-25 years) by confidential, self-administered questionnaire (modification of a tested approach in the UK). A total sample of 298 subjects participated (94% response), comprising 47 medical students (16%), 194 nonmedical students (65%), and 57 school graduates (19%). Of all participants, 253 (85%) were unmarried. Results: Salient discriminatory findings were that medical students significantly differed from the other two groups in stating that AIDS could not be identified in a person by appearance (p=.003) and that the use of condoms was protective while traveling abroad (p<.001). The latter issue also reflected a significant difference between married and unmarried subjects, in that marital status influenced a positive response to the protective role of condoms. Among all subjects, 41% had visited Asian countries outside the Gulf region and 20% intended to visit. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a prevailing uncertainty about AIDS knowledge and a possible fear of AIDS, both of which tend to increase acceptance of special education programmes.