Marukutira, Tafireyi (2012-03)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to investigate associations between the perceptions of own sexual risk of HIV transmission and knowledge of HIV by healthcare workers in a health district in Botswana. The objectives of the study were to establish the level of knowledge of HIV among health care workers, to assess perception of their own risk of the infection, to establish the relationship between level of knowledge of HIV and perception of risk as well as to provide guidance on prevention strategies for health care workers. The focus of the study was on the personal life of a health care worker as opposed to occupational HIV exposure.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-administered anonymous questionnaires in 32 health care workers in a health district in Botswana. There was an 80% response rate and data was analysed through descriptive statistics as well as cross tabulations.
The average knowledge of HIV among health care workers in this study was high ranging from moderate to excellent. HIV knowledge was based on its transmission, ART and HIV prevention. 78.1% of the health care workers perceived they were at risk of HIV infection in their own personal lives and this was related to high levels of knowledge related to the infection. There was some risk taking behaviour reported in this study but it was not significantly high. There were few health care workers with multiple sexual partners (15.6%) and condom use was reported at 78.1%. Health care workers accurately identified correct and consistent use of the condom as the most effective method of HIV prevention which health care workers should also use. HIV testing was reported in 93.8% of the health care workers and disclosure to sexual partners was also high at 87.5%. There were, however, some misconceptions regarding oral and anal sex with some health care workers failing to identify that oral sex is protective as opposed to the high risk anal sex. Health care workers in this study also agreed that there should be focus on health care workers but prevention strategies should be similar to the general population such as behaviour change and HIV testing.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gepoog om die verband tussen die persepsies van eie seksuele risiko van MIV-oordrag en kennis van MIV deur gesondheidswerkers in 'n distrik in Botswana te ondersoek. Die doelwitte van die studie was om die vlak van kennis van MIV onder gesondheidswerkers vas te stel, die persepsie van eie risiko van MIV-infeksie te evalueer, die verhouding tussen die vlak van kennis van MIV en persepsie van risiko, sowel as om leiding te verkaf vir MIV-voorkomingstrategieë vir gesondheidswerkers. Die fokus van die studie was op die persoonlike lewe van 'n gesondheidswerker in teenstelling met beroepsblootstelling aan MIV.
'n Dwarssnee–opname is gedoen, deur gebruik te maak van self-geadministreerde, anonieme vraelyste met 32 gesondheidswerkers in 'n gesondheidsdistrik in Botswana. Daar was 'n 80% responskoers en data is geanaliseer deur middel van beskrywende statistieke sowel as kruistabelle. Die gemiddelde kennis van MIV onder gesondheidswerkers in hierdie studie, was hoog. MIV-kennis is gebaseer op die MIV-oordrag en voorkoming. 78.1% van die gesondheidswerkers begryp dat by hulle 'n hoë risiko bestaan van MIV-infeksie in hule eie persoonlike lewens en dit hou verband met hoë vlakke van MIV-kennis. Hoë risikogedrag was gerapporteer in hierdie studie, maar dit was nie noemenswaardig hoog nie. Daar was min gesondheidswerkers met seksmaats (15,6) en die gebruik van kondome is aangemeld as 78.1%. Gesondheidswerkers het die korrekte en gereelde gebruik van kondome korrek geïdentifiseer, as die mees doeltreffende metode van MIV-voorkoming, wat gesondheidswerkers ook moet gebruik. MIV-toetsing is aangemeld as 93.8% van die gesondheidswerkers en bekendmaking aan seksuele maats was ook hoog op 87.5%.
Daar is egter 'n paar wanopvattings ten opsigte van orale en anale seks. 'n Paar gesondheidswerkers het versuim om te identifiseer dat orale seks beskermend is teenoor die hoë risiko anale seks. Gesondheidswerkers in hierdie studie het ook ooreengekom dat daar gefokus moet word op gesondheidswerkers, maar dat voorkomingstrategieë soortelyk moet wees vir die algemene bevolking soos gedragsverandering en MIV-toetsing.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20098