AIDS awareness among married women in reproductive age group from rural areas of three coastal districts.

In 1997 4976 women currently married and in the age group up to 49 years were surveyed in the rural areas of three rural coastal districts of Western Maharashtra an area with a high potential for spread of HIV/AIDS. Only about 35% of women were aware about AIDS. Of those who were aware about AIDS knowledge about the sexual route of transmission was the most common (75%). Mother to child transmission was mentioned only by about 15% of women. The womans age had an inverted U shaped relationship while her education was positively correlated with AIDS awareness. Misconceptions about AIDS was uncommon in women except that 17.9% of women believe AIDS to be curable. Television has the most reach (75%) for conveying information about AIDS. The print media (newspapers and magazines) play a limited role in dissemination of information in rural areas especially for women. The health worker was the source of AIDS information in only about 1 in 5 women. Though the awareness of AIDS transmission was high the awareness of AIDS prevention was low. Mass media communications needs to be explored in AIDS education campaigns. Media preference studies need to be undertaken to determine the message content and the medium of communication specific for rural women. AIDS awareness campaigns needs to purposively address the needs of the young adolescent as well as the uneducated woman. (authors)