AIDS - KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES AMONG STD CLINIC ATTENDERS IN THE CAPE PENINSULA

This study aimed to determine knowledge about, attitudes to and practi ces associated with AIDS among sexually transmitted disease (STD) clin ic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open an d closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered by trained clinic staff to 306 patients in 9 o f the 29 STD clinics in the region, The median age of attenders was 25 years, The median period of residence in the peninsula was 7 years, T here was inadequate awareness of the asymptomatic carrier state, the i ncurability of AIDS and ways to prevent AIDS, Sexual practice was a hi gh risk: 70,4% of male attenders reported 2 or more partners since the beginning of the year (average 9 months); 39,5% of men reported more than one episode of STD in the previous 2 years, Prostitution was perc eived to be common in attenders' communities, There was a low percepti on of risk to self, and intention to change behaviour was low, More in formation about AIDS was requested by 98% of patients, These findings are discussed with reference to the health belief model, Fischbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action and Catania et al.'s AIDS risk redu ction model, This study supports the urgent need for AIDS education an d counselling programmes for patients with STDs in the region. Recomme ndations include the need to address the beliefs and attitudes that af fect behaviour, as well as to convey knowledge.