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. 2024 Feb 2;16(2):e53451.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.53451. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes Related to HIV/AIDS Among the Population With Increasing Incidence Rate

Nawaid H Khan  1 , Mirza Masroor Beg  1 , Mohammed Z Sarwar  1 , Gulzat Z Kyzy  1 , Tolkun Zhetkinbekova  1 , Akyltai Mamatov  1 , Aizirek Z Kyzy  1 , Kudaibergen Osmonaliev  1 , Mannap U Nurlanbek  1 , Syed S Faisal  1 , Hafiz Ahmad  2 , Saleha Khanam  1 , Shafee U Rehman  1
Affiliations

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes Related to HIV/AIDS Among the Population With Increasing Incidence Rate

Nawaid H Khan et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction Lack of awareness and negative attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are key barriers to minimizing the transmission of HIV. Therefore, the present survey-based study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward PLWHA. Methods In the present study, we collected data from 612 Kyrgyz national participants using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Among the participants, 59% (361) were females, and 41% (251) were males. The mean age of the participants was 26.23 (SD = 7.7) years. All participants were aware of HIV/AIDS, and 59.1% (362) agreed to have sufficient information about HIV/AIDS. Overall, the participants displayed a high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission, and 89.2% (546) of them were aware of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS. Among the participants, 54% (330) believed that using condoms during sexual intercourse could prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Concerning social attitudes, 17% (104) of the participants agreed that HIV-infected individuals should be isolated from society. Moreover, 39% (238) of them disagreed to work with PLWHA. The results of the study suggest that female participants were more aware of the modes of HIV/AIDS transmission than males. However, misconceptions regarding transmission routes were present in both genders. Conclusion The present study revealed that study participants had correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission modes such as unsafe blood transfusion and injectable drug abuse. However, knowledge about unsafe tattooing and mother-to-baby mode of HIV/AIDS transmission was observed to be lower. Female participants were found to be more aware of HIV/AIDS transmission. There is a need to address the knowledge and awareness gap in the general population of Kyrgyzstan, especially among the male population.

Keywords: assessment; attitude; hiv/aids; knowledge; kyrgyzstan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Source of information about HIV/AIDS among the participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Demonstration of attitude toward condom use and stigma among participants.
(A) The use of condoms can prevent HIV transmission. (B) People with HIV/AIDS should be separated from society. (C) Do you agree to work with HIV/AIDS-positive individuals?
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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