A Survey on Knowledge and Awareness of HIV/AIDS Among Slum Dwellers of Bangladesh

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is one of the most destructive diseases humankind has ever faced. It brings with it profound social, economic and public health consequences. It has become one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges. Slum people are at high risk of HIV and AIDS infections due to their poor knowledge about the disease and its mode of transmission. Therefore, awareness is needed to control and prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. This study was aimed to assess slum dweller’s knowledge about HIV, it’s mode of transmission, control and prevention and attitude towards HIV infected person. It was a survey based study where 569 slum dwellers (both male and female) from Vashantek, BRP and Kalshi slum were interviewed with a pre structured questionnaire. All the respondents were above the age 18 and they have heard about HIV/AIDS. According to 78.56% of the respondents, HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through unprotected sex and from mother to fetus. About 75.57% respondents seem that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through blood transfusion or by sharing infected needle. Majority of them have little knowledge or misconception about the mode of transmission like mosquito bite (49.74%), eating or drinking from same glass or plate (39.54%) and wearing same dress (36.38%). From the study 76.10% of the respondents think that using condom can be a mode of prevention of AIDS whereas 72.41% think by avoiding needle sharing and 72.41% think by increasing knowledge and awareness can help to prevent AIDS. Most participants showed positive attitude towards infected person. After analysis the data it has been shown that 71% of them wanted to take care in home or community and 74% participants told that they would like to continue relationship with the patient. Since only three slums (Vashantek, BRP and Kalshi) cannot reflect the overall view of the whole country, further research work should be carried out with more number of slum area and it is also important to increase the level of knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS; so that misconceptions don’t arise among the slum dwellers