Kiến thức, thái độ và hành vi phòng chống HIV/AIDS trong nhóm đồng bào dân tộc Khmer ở Kiên Giang (2006-2012)

A before and after intervention cross-sectional study was carried out in 2006 and 2012 among the Khmer ethnic minority, both male and female aged 15-49 years old, living in Ha Tien and Kien Luong districts, Kien Giang province. The aim was to evaluate intervention results on knowledge, attitude and practice of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention and control among the Khmer ethnic minority and identify the prevalence of HIV as well as recommend appropriate preventive models. In each round, more than 800 persons were interviewed with blood samples taken for HIV and syphilis testing. Study results showed sharp increase of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Comparing 2006 with 2012, the HIV prevention knowledge raised from 20.1 percent to 33 percent; awareness of HIV/STI prevention and control services grew from 2.5 percent to 14.8 percent; and objection to misunderstanding of HIV increased from 11.5 percent to 32.5 percent. Stigma against PLHIV reduced from 74.1 percent in 2006 to 59.4 percent in 2012. Discrimination rate fell from 73.5 percent in 2006 to 47.4 percent in 2012. The rate of condom use in the last non-marital relation was 67.5 percent (post-intervention). Ever drug users accounted for small percentage, at 0.5 percent in 2012. STI self-reporting rate in the last 12 months was 6 percent. Syphilis prevalence in 2012 study was found at 0.4 percent, a reduction compared with 1.4 percent in 2006 study. HIV prevalence was 0.2 percent in intervention studies.