KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS AIDS AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE PHYSICIANS IN THE ASIR REGION, SAUDI-ARABIA

Study Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitudes towards AIDS a mong practicing physicians in the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia. Design an d Participants: A survey was carried out among primary health care (PH C) physicians working in the 238 PHC centers in the region. Self admin istered questionnaires were distributed to the 361 physicians working in these centers. Three hundred and twenty-eight responded (90.1%) and were included in the study. Non-respondents were found not to differ significantly from respondents with regards to sex, age and qualificat ions. Main Results: The study revealed several gaps in their knowledge regarding AIDS. Of particular concern are those who are to be conside red at high risk and modes of transmission of the disease. Conclusions : These results indicate an urgent need to develop AIDS specific conti nuing medical education program to deal with erroneous ideas to convey the message properly to the public.