Ignorance main obstacle in HIV battle
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 23rd November 2006
IGNORANCE is still hindering the battle against HIV and Aids, along with community care for victims, according to results of a Bahrain survey revealed last night.
The survey, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Health Ministry over the last year, targeted Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), pregnant women and university students.
The most frequent misconception among survey participants was that HIV/Aids could be transmitted by mosquito bites. This was stated by 23 per cent of IDUs, and 40pc of students and pregnant women.
Ignorance main obstacle in HIV battle
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 23rd November 2006
IGNORANCE is still hindering the battle against HIV and Aids, along with community care for victims, according to results of a Bahrain survey revealed last night.
The survey, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Health Ministry over the last year, targeted Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), pregnant women and university students.
The most frequent misconception among survey participants was that HIV/Aids could be transmitted by mosquito bites. This was stated by 23 per cent of IDUs, and 40pc of students and pregnant women.
The next common misconception was that HIV/Aids could be transmitted from public toilets. It was cited by 43pc of pregnant women, 48pc of students and 64pc of IDUs.
The fact that a healthy looking person can be infected was well-known: 86pc among IDUs, but to a lesser extent amongst students (69pc) and pregnant women (55pc).
The survey results were announced by officials at a meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel last night. It was addressed by Health Under-Secretary Dr Aziz Hamza, UNDP resident representative Sayed Aqa, National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Programme manager Dr Somaya Al Jowder and UNDP media consultant Marvin Zeidan.
Mr Zeidan announced the launch of a six-week media campaign to increase HIV/Aids awareness.
Survey participants included 523 IDUs registered at the Psychiatric Hospital Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, Salmaniya, 388 pregnant women and 2,145 students from 12 universities, aged 18 to 25.
The nationwide survey was the first of its kind in the GCC and was conducted to evaluate the extent of Aids in the country, to study the attitude of people on HIV/Aids and raise awareness.
UNDP programme analyst Ali Salman said there was still a great deal of stigma attached to those with HIV/Aids.
According to the survey, 15pc pregnant women, 20pc students and 28pc IDUs would buy food from a shopkeeper they knew was infected. Only 14pc pregnant women, 29pc students and 43pc IDUs would share a meal with an infected person.
As few as 26pc pregnant women, 50pc students and 67pc IDUs would take care of an infected male/female relative in their household.
Survey results also highlighted the need for sterile needles to be more accessible to IDUs, because only 35pc reported they were able to buy them from a pharmacy. One quarter of IDUs said they had shared a needle or a syringe. The survey called for the Health Ministry to establish an exchange programme, which would give drug users access to free unused needles.
Regarding prevention of HIV/Aids, 92pc of respondents had heard about condoms, while only 61.6pc reported ever seeing one. Males were twice as likely to have seen a condom (77.9pc) than females (38.6pc). “It is very useful information because it will help us draw up a road map to tackle the issues,” said Mr Salman.
© Gulf Daily News
