Abstract
Background: The epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is considered as a big health
problem. Therefore, in the absence of knowledge seeking behavior, issues cannot be handled adequately.
Thus, the study is aimed to assess the knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) and
sex-related health seeking attitude among young adults attending family-practice clinics in Karachi,
Pakistan.
Methods: Across-sectional study was accomplished in family medicine clinics affiliated with a tertiary care
private sector teaching hospital in Karachi. Both Male and female gender, 586 subjects were approached
by convenient non-probability sampling method. Participants who came to visit family medicine clinics for
any reason with age between 18 to 24 years and never married were enrolled for the study. Structured and
pretested tool was used to gather the data. Along with socio-economic variables, inquired the level of
knowledge about the transmission, cure and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, study participants were
also asked about the health and education-seeking attitude regarding sexual problems.
Results: Among 586 participants, males were 335 (57.2%) and females 251 (42.8%). Majority of them had
knowledge that HIV can be transmitted by blood/blood products (92.7%), un-sterilized needles/syringes
(85.3%) and unsafe-sex (93.5%). However, misconceptions were also present such as transmission of HIV by
mosquito-bite, public toilets/swimming pools and food/water. Furthermore, 82.9% of study subjects believed
that HIV is a vaccine preventable disease and 78.5% stated that AIDS is curable. Over 50% felt that their level
of knowledge about HIV/AIDS is insufficient, and 72.7% subjects preferred school as a better source for
providing sexual-health education, and the difference of these responses by sex were not significant.
However, only 17.9% females preferred electronic media for providing sexual-health education compared
to 30.7% males (p<0.01) and 51.4% females stated allopathic doctors as better choice to consult for sexual
problems compared to 36.1% males (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of young adults have inadequate knowledge and
misconception about HIV/AIDS.
Alia Nasir, Saima Merchant, Badil. (2019) Hiv/Aids Knowledge And Sex Related Health Seeking Attitude Among Young Adults In Karachi, Pakistan, The Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry, Volume 8, Issue-3.
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