E. Lagarde et al., KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTION OF AIDS IN RURAL SENEGAL - RELATIONSHIP TO SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR-CHANGE, AIDS, 10(3), 1996, pp. 327-334
Objectives: To describe the determinants of 'at risk' sexual behaviour
and perception of AIDS-related prevention messages in rural Africa. S
etting: A rural area in Southern Senegal. Design: Cross-sectional stud
y using a standardized questionnaire administered by local interviewer
s to 240 men and 242 women aged 15-59 years, randomly selected among t
he general population. Results: Twenty-eight per cent of the sexually
active men and 27% of the sexually active women declared at least one
casual sexual partner in the 12 months preceding the interview. Among
these, 27% of men and 30% of women declared having used a condom in mo
st acts or casual intercourse. Seasonal migrants and divorced or widow
ed women were more likely to declare casual sex. Casual sex was motiva
ted by material needs for 66% of the women who experienced it, and tho
se of the women who reported casual sexual intercourse were less likel
y to reel at risk or AIDS [odds ratio (OR), 3.9; P = 0.01] and were mo
re optimistic about their future (OR, 3.6; P = 0.03). For men, the mot
ivations explaining a change in sexual behaviour in order to avoid HIV
infection included the perception of AIDS as a health problem (OR, 11
; P = 0.004), the perception of the disease as serious (OR, 5.4; P = 0
.001) and the feeling of personal risk of becoming HIV-infected (OR, 3
.2; P = 0.02). Perceived skill in changing one's behaviour was strongl
y associated with declaration of past behaviour change for both men an
d women (men: OR, 3.4; P = 0.02; women: OR, 6.3; P = 0.0001). Conclusi
on: Men and women exhibit two different patterns regarding their behav
iour and perception towards AIDS. Material needs appear to be of impor
tance for women, whereas perception of a real threat lead men to adopt
protective behaviours. In the very area of this study, widowed and di
vorced women as well as male seasonal migrants are particularly expose
d to HIV infection. They are characterized by a higher risk behaviour,
a low rate of condom use and seldom declared any protective measures
to avoid HIV infection.