International Journal of STD and AIDS
Volume 25, Issue 11, 2014, Pages 817-826

HIV knowledge, risk perception and avoidant behaviour change among Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea (Article)

Woodward A.* , Howard N. , Kollie S. , Souare Y. , von Roenne A. , Borchert M.
  • a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom, King’s International Development Institute, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
  • b London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
  • c Reproductive Health Group (RHG), Gueckedou, Guinea
  • d Reproductive Health Group (RHG), Gueckedou, Guinea
  • e Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Berlin, Germany
  • f Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health (ITMIH), Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Berlin, Belgium

Abstract

A common assumption underpinning health communications design in humanitarian settings is that increasing knowledge and risk perception will lead to appropriate behaviour change. This study compares associations of HIV knowledge and perceived risk with reported HIV-avoidant behaviour changes and sexual health choices from a community survey of 698 sexually experienced male and female Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea. HIV knowledge was not significantly associated with reported HIV-avoidant changes (OR 1.25; adjusted for gender; 95%CI 0.76–2.04), while perceived HIV risk was negatively associated (OR 0.38, adjusted for age at sexual debut; 95%CI 0.22–0.66). Trying to conceive was the main reason reported for not using condoms or other contraception (28%; 138/498), followed by current pregnancy/lactation (19%; 93/498). Results suggest contextual factors (e.g. desire for children) can be as important as knowledge and risk-perception, and HIV prevention initiatives in stable and chronic humanitarian settings should account for these. © The Author(s) 2014.

Author Keywords

Risk perception AIDS behaviour change chronic emergencies Refugees HIV HIV prevention

Index Keywords

perception HIV Infections refugee sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection Guinea human Refugees epidemiology middle aged condom Condoms Sierra Leone ethnology Human immunodeficiency virus Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans avoidance behavior Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics Contraception pregnancy sexual health Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article major clinical study adult utilization Reproductive Health attitude to health behavior change
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84907195601&doi=10.1177%2f0956462414521163&partnerID=40&md5=3b51e303933ee83673d2adda2832f399
DOI: 10.1177/0956462414521163
ISSN: 09564624
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English