Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices about HIV/AIDS among the overseas job seekers in Bangladesh

A study of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KABP) relating to HIV/AIDS was conducted among people from Bangladesh seeking work oversea s (N = 300), during February, 1997 and March, 1997. Only 26% of the respond ents knew of AIDS and out of 13 basic facts concerning HIV/AIDS the mean sc ore of the sample was 1.63 correct responses. Most of those who knew of HIV had some false beliefs about the mode of HIV transmission, for example, be lieving that HIV could be contracted by touching an AIDS patient, or sharin g bathing facilities or eating utensils. Sex with brothel-based commerical sex workers (100%), sharing contaminated needles (93.6%) and blood transfus ion from infected individuals (93.6%) were seen as the main route of HIV tr ansmission. Printed media (69%) was the main source of AIDS information. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that having a non-agricultural occupation (P < 0.04), being resident in Dhaka, Chandpur, Noakhali, Comill a, and Chittagong (P < 0.0 1), being in the habit of reading newspapers (P < 0.05), using condoms (P < 0.04), having heard about condoms (P < 0.003), having seen condoms (P < 0.005) and knowing where to buy condoms (P < 0.000 5) were significantly associated with AIDS awareness. There is insufficient AIDS awareness among overseas job seekers which calls for public initiatives to provide AIDS information to them before they lea ve Bangladesh to work abroad.