Assessment of knowledge, perception and risk determinants of the HIV/AIDS among a pastoralist Community in Borena Zone
Creators: name: Arero, Godana
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2011

description: Background: Knowledge factors and the practice of safe sex behaviors are important to contribute to perceptions of lower risk of being infected with HIV. However, currently knowledge and practice of pastoral community about HIV prevention is quite low. Identify factors influencing the perceptions of Gada leaders and community about HIV/AIDS prevention is crucial to alleviate HIV/AIDS pandemic. Objectives: To assess knowledge, practice and perception of the pastoral community about HIV/AIDS prevention and Cultural Risk behaviors among voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients in Borena Zone of Oromia Regional State. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study design was conducted among 423 randomly selected pastoral communities from four kebeles of the four Woredas in Borena Zone. The quantitative data were collected using a pre- tested structured and anonymous questionnaire, which were entered, cleaned and analyzed using Epi-Info 3.1.1 and SPSS 17 statistical software programs. To complement the quantitative data, qualitative data were obtained from the focus group discussion. Results: Four hundred twelve, 154(37.4%) male and 258(62.6% female) respondents from a total 423 proposed study targets with 50% from community and 50% during exit interview from Government health Hc with a response rate 97.4% were involved in the study. The mean and median age of respondents was 31.7 and 30.5 years respectively. About 30.9% respondents had poor knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention, 20.4% respondents have had misconception that HIV is disease of urban and cultural health risk behaviors (wife sharing, polygamy and widow inheritance) are not paves way for HIV/AIDS transmissions. Among respondents, 78.2% had sexual experienced before study period, out of these, 51.2% were perceived risk of more than two or more life time sexual partners (HIV/AIDS) because of unsafe sex, from 51.2%, 27.0% were polygamy, 17.1% were wife sharing, 5.7% were widow inheritance and remaining 8.4% were from other multiple sexual partners which accompanying with low VCT (40.3%) up take, low condom (14.1%) utilization, and low involvement of Gada leaders (6.1%) to prevent HIV/AIDS transmissions. The main reasons for poor knowledge, poor practice and misperception were low IEC/BCC, low media coverage and cultural taboo. Logistic regression analysis showed that being in an age group of 15-24, male, married, educational status, one life time sexual partners, not perceived risk of HIV and those who VCT is available in their vicinity were more likely knowledgeable to denounce cultural health risk behaviors, while age group 45-49 were less likely to denounce cultural sexual behaviors. Conclusions: Based on findings, discouraging cultural health risk practice which paves way for HIV transmission through Gada assemble at place like ―Gumi Gayo and Gumi Eldelu‖, improving knowledge, perception and practice of community so as to denounce and outlaw cultural health risk practice along with Gada leaders, expand VCT site services, and address barrier to up take, encourage at least pre-widow HIV test, sustain behavioral change communication and condom utilization in pastoral community.