Sociocultural aspects of AIDS in an urban peripheral area of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)

HIV-Related Behaviors among Recently Immigrated and Undocumented Latinas

HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and intervention efforts have widened in recent years to include minorities and women, partly in response to the rise of infection among these groups [1]. However, conventional research methods (i.e., random community samples) are likely to exclude more marginalized groups such as undocumented immigrants. We conducted ethnographic interviews of twenty-one recently immigrated and undocumented Latinas regarding their HIV-related risk behaviors, partners risk behaviors, HIV knowledge and attitudes, and sexual communication and decision making. Findings indicated low rates of risk behaviors. However, condom use was also low, and partners' behavior appeared to pose a risk. The immigration process, often necessitating periods of separation, may prohibit women from having accurate knowledge about partners' risk behaviors. Interviews were conducted at community agencies where respondents were recruited and at respondents' home in Los Angeles County. Findings suggest the importance of considering the effects of immigration, acculturation, and gender and relationship dynamics when examining risk in this population.

[Sources of information and their relationship to the degree of knowledge about AIDS in Mexican adolescents]

INTRODUCTION

In Mexico 2.1% of the cases of AIDS are in adolescents. The cases of AIDS in the age group of 20 to 29 account for 30.5% of all the cases and an important proportion could have been infected with HIV in their adolescence, in view of the length of the incubation period from the infection with HIV to the manifestation of the syndrome. The adolescent's knowledge of HIV/AIDS varies. In some urban contexts the adolescents have lay concepts and myths that could guide them into misting practices that could lead to contamination by HIV. The mass media, especially television, and interpersonal sources such as teachers, parents and peers are important sources of information about HIV/AIDS and have a central role in the social construction and public perception of the problem in adolescents. The objective of the study is to relate the degree of knowledge of HIV/AIDS to the exposure to information sources among adolescents in Guadalajara city, in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Survey sample with autoapplied questionnaire. Sample of 1,410 adolescents, male and female, of 15 to 19 years of age, in the four socioeconomic strata. The Chi-square and BTukey tests, 95% confidence interval for proportions and means, and simple ANOVA factor were applied.

RESULTS

A considerate degree of knowledge (mean of 13.94 correct answer out of 24, standard deviation = 4.09, 95% CI = 13.69-14.11) was found significant mean differences in favor of the high (15.70) and medium (14.26) strata as opposed to the low (13.51) and marginalized (12.85) (F = 19.39, p < .0001, BTukey level .050). The information published by the newspapers (F = 11.1; p < .001) and the teachers (F = 3.72; p < .05) had a direct relationship to the degree of knowledge imported by the daily exposure to the television and other social demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The results describe the presence of inequalities by socioeconomic strata in the list of sources in information and the levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. It is necessary to strengthen and develop educational action and the publication of messages through the media, institutions and interpersonal networks, with emphasis on interpersonal and media sources available to the low and marginalized strata, and at the same time, to strengthen the action of sources of information available to the other socioeconomic strata.

How can psychological theory help to promote condom use in sub-Saharan African developing countries?

Condom use for HIV prevention has been very inconsistent in most sub-Saharan African countries. Studies from around the continent report that knowledge about HIV transmission is variable and seems to be related to gender, socioeconomic and educational status. There is a large body of psychological knowledge about HIV prevention which has been applied to condom promotion campaigns in developed countries. These approaches to condom promotion, based on formal theory, have not been used on a wide scale in African countries and this paper explores ways in which psychological theory might be appropriately applied in a situation of high HIV prevalence.

A review of research on the nature and quality of HIV testing services: a proposal for process-based studies

Considerable research has been conducted on various issues associated with HIV testing. However, rather than conceptualizing HIV testing as a dynamic process which consists of interrelated elements, this body of work has focused on discrete aspects of the HIV testing process. As an example of such research, studies which have examined HIV testing in terms of various behavioural and psychological outcomes are critically reviewed. Their limitations are attributed to their failure to account for all the elements involved in the HIV testing process that-singly and in dynamic combination-could have produced the measured outcomes. It is contended that if research on HIV testing is to be of use in the development and improvement of HIV testing services, it should be able to identify and describe in detail the factors that might lead to various outcomes of testing. This requires an in-depth examination of all aspects of the HIV testing process and their interrelationships from the perspectives of those undergoing testing and those providing testing services. The principal process elements in HIV testing are described; existing research on these topics is critically reviewed; and recommendations are made for future research. The process elements of HIV testing are identified as making a decision to be tested; accessing testing services; test counseling; and waiting for the test result. Of these, most consideration is accorded to the HIV test counselling process. It is contended that research is needed which examines both clients' and counsellors' expectations, experiences of and satisfaction with HIV test counselling. Specific issues that could usefully be addressed by future research include the process of obtaining clients' informed consent for testing; the ways in which test results are conveyed to clients; the strategies used in HIV counselling to help clients avoid or reduce behaviours in the future; partner notification; and which professional groups are best placed to conduct HIV test counselling. Finally, the question of which research methods might be suitable for process-based studies is considered. It is concluded that qualitative methods could be particularly appropriate as they are well-placed to chart in detail the varied aspects of the HIV testing process and their interrelationships.

AIDS awareness and knowledge among Botswana women: implications for prevention programs

In-depth interviews with 56 urban women in Botswana revealed high levels of AIDS awareness and high reliance on mass media information. Many of the women expressed confusion about AIDS as an illness, that is, its symptoms and the latent period. Nearly all of the women were aware that the virus that leads to AIDS is sexually transmitted and believed that condoms are effective for prevention. However, one third had incorrect knowledge about transmission, lacking a full understanding of sexual transmission and believing that transmission can occur through casual contact. Two thirds believed they were at risk for getting AIDS, usually because they did not trust their partners and lacked control over their partners' behaviors. More than half of the women said they had changed their behaviours to prevent AIDS. Thirty-six said they had only one partner, but only 11 said they used condoms or would do so with a future partner. The women's responses provide important information on gaps in AIDS knowledge that need to be addressed in AIDS prevention.