Association between individual factors and HIV and AIDS

Abstract

Introduction: Individual personality affects the culture of the society and it also affects the risk behavior of HIV and AIDS. Level of knowledge and sexual practices of individual determine the risk of HIV transmission. HIV and AIDS is one of the most dreaded diseases of century. The epidemic is unique in its devastating impact on the social, economic and demographic underpinnings of development. This study investigated the roles of individual factors increasing the risk of HIV and AIDS in the context of Nepal.

Methods: Study was non experimental cross sectional. 404 respondents were randomly selected from the long route transport workers, brick factory workers, garment factory workers and health workers. The study was conducted from Oct 2012 to Mar 2013 (6 months) in Kathmandu valley.

Results: 94.1% respondents found aware about the unsafe sex is the means of HIV transmission. But still occupation-wise, 63.4 % of Health workers wanted HIV status to remain secret as compared with only 17.8% transport workers remained it secret. Highly educated persons felt feeling of stigma being HIV positive. 11.6% respondents reported that they had sexual relationship with non- regular sex partners. Among them 37.5% had not used condom during the sexual intercourse with non- regular sex partners

Conclusions: Safer sex practices is low than level of knowledge. Negligence behavior found high free martial sex in increasing among the youth. Most of the educated person didn't want to disclose the HIV status because of the fear of stigma and discrimination of society.