Sexual transmission diseases and AIDS awareness of community in Iran
M. Rostami Dovom, F. Ramezani Tehrani, F. Hejazi, Sh. Djalalinia
National Research Center for Reproductive Health, Deputy of Research &
Technology, MOHME, Iran
Objectives: STDs/HIV/AIDS infections affect health conditions of
community. Therefore, this study aimed to determine STDs/AIDS related knowledge,
beliefs and behavior of married men regarding STDs/AIDS.
Design & Methods: 5540 men from 4 provinces (Golestan, Bushehr,
Kordestan and Tehran) were interviewed through a standard questionnaire based on
health beliefs model and using statistical tests like as chi-square, t-.test,
Mann-Whitney the results were analyzed.
Results: 47% of men heard about STDs before, and about 43/2% of them
had awareness about HIV/AIDS. Only 1/3 of men knew its transmission ways
correctly. 1/3 of subjects had mentioned abstain from having sexual contact with
the suspected partner as a preventing way. 65% of men knew that use of condom
could prevent STDs/AIDS transmission. But only 1/3 of men knew some healthy
looking person could be infected with HIV/AIDS, and 25% of subjects had
misconception regarding this method.
Conclusion: Efficient STDs/AIDS awareness program is necessary and it
is better to consider this service as an integrated of sex education at
premarriage counseling could promote having safer sex and protecting from STDs/AIDS.
