European Journal of Public Health
Volume 22, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 192-197

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of voluntary HIV counselling and testing among rural migrants in central China: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Zhang T. , Zhang J. , Gao M. , He N.* , Detels R.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
  • b Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
  • c Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
  • d Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
  • e Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States

Abstract

Objective: To document knowledge, attitudes and practices of voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) among rural migrants in central China. Methods: A cross-sectional study with face-to-face anonymous questionnaire interviews was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Results: Among 1280 participants, 87.9% reported having had sexual intercourse during their lifetime, with 69% of singles reporting having had sexual intercourse and 49.1% having had sex in the past month. Only 21% always used condoms, 84.4% knew HIV infection was diagnosed through blood testing, 56.6% had heard of VCT, but only 3.8% perceived their own risk for HIV infection. Only 43 (2.3%) had ever been tested for HIV, and none had ever been tested at a VCT site. About two-thirds (64.5%) would be willing to use VCT services upon awareness of HIV risk. A logistic regression model showed that females, those having little knowledge of HIV/AIDS, those unwilling to work with HIV-infected individuals, never having been tested for HIV and having low awareness regarding HIV risk were less willing to use VCT. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that much greater efforts are needed to improve HIV/AIDS and VCT knowledge, to promote safer sex and to improve VCT acceptance among rural migrants in central China, particularly those engaging in risky behaviours. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

China voluntary program Voluntary Programs HIV Infections sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection psychological aspect HIV human middle aged statistics rural population Human immunodeficiency virus Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male counseling female AIDS Serodiagnosis questionnaire serodiagnosis Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article high risk behavior Risk-Taking Questionnaires adult migration Transients and Migrants attitude to health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84859799286&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckr006&partnerID=40&md5=f7d169cd483508fe42b154f251a5f058
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckr006
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English