AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF HIGH RISK GROUPS REGARDING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN AHMEDABAD

BACKGROUND: STDs constitute a major public health problem for both developing and developed countries. The emergence of HIV infection has increased the importance of measures aimed at control of STDs. In order to institute appropriate preventive measures, there is a need to establish the profile of knowledge of the predisposing factors and causation of STDs, attitude to sexual practice and condom use amongst the susceptible high risk groups. Objective of study was to assess the awareness, knowledge and attitude of HRGs regarding STDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 3125 respondents belonging to different HRGs--354 Female sex workers (FSWs), 452 Male homosexuals (MSMs), 40 injectable drug users (IDUs) and 2279 Single male migrants (SMMs) were interviewed from April 2010 to July 2010. Study design was descriptive cross sectional study. RESULTS: Correct explanation about STIs was given by only 6.6% of respondents. Knowledge regarding various symptoms of STI was good among respondents 13.4 % of the respondents suffered from STI symptoms in last 1 year and 89.4 % of them received treatment. 40 % of respondents were in favour of partner treatment if they had STI. 100 % FSWs and 30.2 % of MSMs had > 30 partners in last 1 year while 72.6 % of SMMs had < 5 partners. 92.5 % of the respondents were of the opinion that if they suffer from STI, they’ll use condom 65.4 % of respondents had visited STI clinic in their life time. CONCLUSIONS: Level of knowledge related to STI was very poor among various High risk groups and health education programs to increase the awareness among this group are urgently required.