Knowledge, attitudes, risk perception and condom use among married men and women in Ntuzuma and Kwadumisa, KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

One of the greatest and unresolved challenges that faces mankind today is HIV/AIDS and the effects that it has on people as well as society as a whole. South Africa is one of the countries worst affected by HIV/AIDS, with KwaZulu-Natal being one of the hardest hit provinces in the country. So, this pandemic is having a destructive effect on all spheres of life, and until a cure is found for this pandemic, it will continue to pose a threat to all of humankind. The aim of this study was to look at knowledge, attitudes, risk perception and condom use in two sites in KwaZulu Natal. The reason for doing this was because a study of this nature has not been done in these areas. A pre-existing dataset was used and data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis was done using crosstabulations, frequencies and multivariate logistic regression. The major findings of this study are: (i) both men and women of all ages are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and condoms, as well as condom use; (ii) more women perceive themselves to be at risk than do men; (iii) women view condoms more positively than men; and (iv) respondents indicated knowledge and risk perception, but majority of them were not practising safer sexual behaviour. In conclusion, it was observed that knowledge about HIV/AIDS and condoms are universal, however, people perceiving themselves to be at risk are not practising safer sexual behaviours Le. they are not using condoms.