Assessment of Sexual Behavior related to HIV/AIDS in a community practicing widow inheritance in Digalu Tijo, Arsi zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2006-03
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: - Cultural institutions and practices disadvantaged people
to be at risk of HIV infection or help them to prevent from the risk. Some
of the cultural practices that expose people to the high risk of HIV
infection include polygamy and widow inheritance.
Objectives: - This study is aimed at determining KAP of HIV/AIDS,
magnitude, and community attitude towards widow inheritance and its
perceived risk for HIV transmission.
Method: - A community based cross- sectional study was carried out
during January - February 2006 among the rural communities in Digalu
Tijo woreda of Arsi zone Oromia. A total of 768 households were
involved in the study by using systematic random sampling technique.
Data were collected using an interviewer administered Oromiffa version
structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS for
windows version 11.0.
Results: -The mean HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitude were 39.4
±13.3&77.4 ±12.75, respectively. HIV/AIDS attitude of the respondents
increases as their HIV/AIDS knowledge increases. Faithfulness and
abstinence were the main prevention methods most practiced. Among
the respondents, only 51(6.6%) households were involved in wife
inheritance. In other words, 102 individuals engaged in widow
inheritance practice. For the respondents asked about whether they
support widow inheritance or not, 672(87.5%) and 96(12.5%) not support
and support widow inheritance respectively. For the issue rose on
whether the widow inheritance contributes on HIV/AIDS transmission or
not 688(89.4%) of them agreed and 80(10.4%) did not agreed. About the
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majority (72.0%) pointed out that no problem would be occurring if widow
inheritance were abounded.
Conclusion and Recommendations: - This study demonstrated low
level of knowledge and practice but relatively high attitude towards
HIV/AIDS. The magnitude of widow inheritance is significant. But widow
inheritance is not supported and its risk is also well perceived.
Accordingly awareness creation on risk reduction activities was
recommended.
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Assessment of Sexual Behavior related to HIV/AIDS