Correlates of misperceptions in HIV knowledge and attitude towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) among in-school and out- of-school adolescents in Ghana.

摘要: Background: A quarter century into the HIV pandemic, knowledge about sexual transmission and sharing of needles remain high just as misperceptions relating to casual contact. Objectives: To assess knowledge, misperceptions, attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) among adolescents. Methods: cross sectional quantitative qualitative study was conducted adolescents aged 10-19 (n = 483; mean age, 16.6) in Ashanti region Ghana. Results: Knowledge score ranged 0 38 (mean 26.64; sd ± 6.74). prevent AIDS, 78.1% mentioned abstinence, condom use (72.7%), fidelity partner (72.5%), not (76.4%), reducing partners (56.7%). Statistically significant associations were found misperception scores having negative PLWHAs (0.001 < p 0.009). Out-ofschool less likely be willing take care relatives (p 0.004); allow conceal their status 0.001); work others 0.007); more let have healthcare 0.026); indicate that should isolated 0.001). Conclusion: Out-of-school constitute hard-to-reach population mechanisms developed reach them reduce which may fuel stigma discrimination. African Health Sciences 2009: 9(2):82-91