HIV-Related Knowledge among PLWHA Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital at Coastal South India—A Facility-Based Study

• Main Authors: Arjun Banagi Yathiraj PhD, Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan MD, John T. Ramapuram MD, Rekha Thapar MD, Prasanna Mithra MD, Deepak Madi MD, Nithin Kumar MD, Vaman Kulkarni MD, Ramesh Holla MD, Jayachidambaram Ambalavanan MBBS, BB Darshan MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-11-01
• Series: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2325957417742671

Background: Adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is essential for the prevention of HIV transmission. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 409 PLHIV aged ≥18 years were interviewed regarding their HIV-related knowledge, from April 2014 to April 2015. HIV-related knowledge was assessed using the HIV knowledge questionnaire 18 . Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the factors associated with high HIV-related knowledge. Odds ratios with its corresponding 95% confidence intervals were reported. A value of P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Among 409 PLHIV, 46.2% had high HIV-related knowledge. Univariate analysis yields factors like upper socioeconomic status, those who are literates, unemployed, and adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART) were associated with higher HIV-related knowledge. On multivariate analysis, upper socioeconomic status and adherence to ART were the factors that remained significantly associated with higher HIV-related knowledge. Conclusion: HIV-related knowledge among PLHIV can be improved through HIV educational programs.