Sociodemographic factors and knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Indian Pregnant women
Department
Psychology
Faculty Advisor
Dionne Stephens
Start Date
30-9-2020 2:00 PM
End Date
30-9-2020 3:00 PM
Abstract
Lack of HIV education impacts rural Indian populations. According to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), India accounts for one of the leading burdens of HIV/AIDS population in the world. This study focuses on the relationship between income, education and knowledge, and perceptions of HIV/AIDS among rural pregnant women in Mysore, India. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2014 among 664 pregnant women. The women were provided an informed consent and answered an interviewer-administered questionnaire on HIV knowledge and perceptions in the Kannada language. The participants underwent routine antenatal care services and were followed up after delivery, at 6 months and 12 months. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were computed using SPSS 23. Results: The mean age was 21±3.0 years old. 98.9% of the women were Hindu. 5.6% had no education, 33.7% had a primary school education, and 60.7% had more than a primary school education. 66.9% of the low income and 33.1% were middle to high income. In the 12-knowledge questionnaire, those who score 0-5 were considered to have low knowledge, 6-8 is medium knowledge, and 9-12 is high knowledge. 76.2% (p<0.005) of women with more than a primary school education scored high on the knowledge questions as opposed to 1% from those with no education. 65.8% (p<0.005) of women with more than a primary school education held positive attitudes about HIV as opposed to 34.2% from middle to no education. Conclusion: Women who were more educated had better knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission. We should therefore focus on relaying information to rural areas.
File Type
Event
Sociodemographic factors and knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Indian Pregnant women
Lack of HIV education impacts rural Indian populations. According to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), India accounts for one of the leading burdens of HIV/AIDS population in the world. This study focuses on the relationship between income, education and knowledge, and perceptions of HIV/AIDS among rural pregnant women in Mysore, India. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2014 among 664 pregnant women. The women were provided an informed consent and answered an interviewer-administered questionnaire on HIV knowledge and perceptions in the Kannada language. The participants underwent routine antenatal care services and were followed up after delivery, at 6 months and 12 months. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were computed using SPSS 23. Results: The mean age was 21±3.0 years old. 98.9% of the women were Hindu. 5.6% had no education, 33.7% had a primary school education, and 60.7% had more than a primary school education. 66.9% of the low income and 33.1% were middle to high income. In the 12-knowledge questionnaire, those who score 0-5 were considered to have low knowledge, 6-8 is medium knowledge, and 9-12 is high knowledge. 76.2% (p<0.005) of women with more than a primary school education scored high on the knowledge questions as opposed to 1% from those with no education. 65.8% (p<0.005) of women with more than a primary school education held positive attitudes about HIV as opposed to 34.2% from middle to no education. Conclusion: Women who were more educated had better knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission. We should therefore focus on relaying information to rural areas.