Ms. Blecher et al., AIDS - KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES AMONG STD CLINIC ATTENDERS IN THE CAPE PENINSULA, South African medical journal, 85(12), 1995, pp. 1281-1286
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.