Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula
This descriptive study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices about AIDS among Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD} clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613307698937856 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Blecher, Mark S |
| author2 | Steinberg, M |
| author_browse | Blecher, Mark S Steinberg, M |
| author_facet | Steinberg, M Blecher, Mark S |
| author_sort | Blecher, Mark S |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This descriptive study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices about AIDS among Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD} clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered by trained clinic staff to 306 patients in 9 of the 29 STD Clinics in the region. The study was requested by the local authorities to initiate and improve AIDS education programmes within the STD clinics. 306 patients were interviewed in 9 clinics. The median age of attenders was 25 years. The median period of residence in the peninsula was 7 years. Knowledge of AIDS is reasonably good when tested by true/false questions but much worse when tested by open questions. Knowledge bears little relationship to practice. There is inadequate awareness of the asymptomatic carrier state, the incurability of AIDS and ways to prevent AIDS. Sexual practice is high risk. Condom use is extremely low especially in the African areas where only 9,6% used a condom in the past year. Prostitution is perceived to be a common occurrence in attenders' communities. There is a low perception of risk to self. The most important beliefs militating against condom use are that they are unacceptable to partners and peer group. More information about AIDS was requested by 90% of patients and a strong preference was expressed for programmes to be conducted in the patient's home language. This study supports the urgent need for an AIDS education and counselling programmes for patients with STD's in the region. Recommendations include the need to address the emotions, attitudes and beliefs that affect behaviour as well as to convey knowledge. Condom acceptability poses a major problem that will need to be addressed. Patients with STDs represent an extremely important core group for HIV transmission to others in the community and need specific attention and resources. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/25544 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:03.682Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publishDateRange | 2017 |
| publishDateSort | 2017 |
| publisher | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| publisherStr | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/25544 Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula Blecher, Mark S Steinberg, M Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - South Africa~Health education - South Africa This descriptive study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices about AIDS among Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD} clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered by trained clinic staff to 306 patients in 9 of the 29 STD Clinics in the region. The study was requested by the local authorities to initiate and improve AIDS education programmes within the STD clinics. 306 patients were interviewed in 9 clinics. The median age of attenders was 25 years. The median period of residence in the peninsula was 7 years. Knowledge of AIDS is reasonably good when tested by true/false questions but much worse when tested by open questions. Knowledge bears little relationship to practice. There is inadequate awareness of the asymptomatic carrier state, the incurability of AIDS and ways to prevent AIDS. Sexual practice is high risk. Condom use is extremely low especially in the African areas where only 9,6% used a condom in the past year. Prostitution is perceived to be a common occurrence in attenders' communities. There is a low perception of risk to self. The most important beliefs militating against condom use are that they are unacceptable to partners and peer group. More information about AIDS was requested by 90% of patients and a strong preference was expressed for programmes to be conducted in the patient's home language. This study supports the urgent need for an AIDS education and counselling programmes for patients with STD's in the region. Recommendations include the need to address the emotions, attitudes and beliefs that affect behaviour as well as to convey knowledge. Condom acceptability poses a major problem that will need to be addressed. Patients with STDs represent an extremely important core group for HIV transmission to others in the community and need specific attention and resources. 2017-10-11T07:59:17Z 2017-10-11T07:59:17Z 1992 2017-08-22T12:59:09Z Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25544 eng application/pdf Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - South Africa~Health education - South Africa Blecher, Mark S Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| title_full | Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| title_short | Awareness of AIDS among STD clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula |
| title_sort | awareness of aids among std clinic attenders in the cape peninsula |
| topic | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - South Africa~Health education - South Africa |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25544 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT blechermarks awarenessofaidsamongstdclinicattendersinthecapepeninsula |