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Knowledge and Practice of Positive Prevention among HIV Sero-discordant Couples in South India
Joint Event on Global Experts Meeting on STD-AIDS and Infectious Diseases & 12th International Conference on Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
November 21-22, 2019 | Singapore
Manjunatha R, R K Arya, Krishnamurthy J and Reynold Washington
Institute of Health Management Research, India Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, India University of Manitoba, Canada
Posters & Accepted Abstracts : J Infectious Disease Med Microbiol
Abstract:
Introduction: An important aspect of success in a HIV
Prevention program is the effectiveness of interventions to
reduce HIV transmission between serodiscordant couples.
This study aims to explore the understanding and practice
of positive prevention including condom use, sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), opportunistic infections (OIs)
and treatment seeking behavior for STIs and OIs among
serodiscordant couples in Karnataka, south India.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey, was
conducted among 326 serodiscordant couples in Haveri and
Chitradurga Districts located in central part of Karnataka,
between January 2014 to May 2015. Participants were
selected using a simple random sampling technique and were
recruited with the help of peer groups while seeking care and
support services. Index people living with HIV (PLHIVs) were
interviewed with the help of a pretested structured interview
schedule. Data was analysed by calculating mean, standard
deviations and proportions. The tests of significance applied
were Chi-square test. A P-value of 0.05 was considered to be
statistically significant.
Results: 99.4% believe that condoms can protect them from
STIs whereas only 80.4% (81.7% of men & 74% of women)
reported that they use condoms with spouse. PLHIV in the
younger age group (21-30 years) reported higher condom use
with their spouse when compared to middle (31-40 years)
and older (>40 years) age groups. 80.8% (79% of men & 90%
of women) of participants had good knowledge on STIs. Those
with good knowledge on STI reported higher rates of condom
use with spouse (81.7%) and reported lesser STI episodes,
while compared to others. 21.4% of PLHIV who have adopted
permanent methods of contraception reported not using
condoms with spouse. Education of Index PLHIV, spousal
education and enrollment with support groups were found to
be positively associated with higher condom use with spouse,
lower incidence of STIs and OIs.
Conclusions: Gaps exist in translation of knowledge into
practice. Low levels of condom use among middle aged
couples and those who have adopted permanent methods
of contraception, is a cause for concern and calls for further
investigation of other structural and social barriers to condom
use among these population groups.
Biography:
E-mail: manjunatha@iihmr.org
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