Knowledge about HIV /AIDS among urban and rural residents in 5 provinces of west China-a telephone survey

Objective To investigate the knowledge and influence factors of human immunodeficiency virus/ac-quired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in urban and rural residents of 5 provinces in west China. Methods The telephone numbers were chosen with stratified random sampling and telephone survey was used to collect information among residents aged 15-60 years in Inner Mongolia,Sichuan,Gansu,Qinghai and Ningxia province. A structured ques-tionnaire was used to collect information about general demographic characteristics and the knowledge about HIV / AIDS. Results A total of 2 653 residents from the 5 provinces were interviewed. The average knowledge rate of HIV /AIDS was 77. 3%(49. 1%-88. 0%) for the 5 provinces. The average knowledge rate of HIV / AIDS control policy was 92. 7%. The knowledge rates among urban residents,young residents and the residents with high education were signifi-cantly higher than those of other residents(P0. 01). Multiple regression showed that living in rural area(odds ratio(OR)=0. 770),with low education(OR=0. 182,0. 344 and 0. 436),living in Sichuan province(OR=0. 260) were risk factors for HIV / AIDS control hnowledge,while at the age between 31-45 years(OR=1. 455),living in Gansu pronince(OR=2. 213),Ningxia(OR=1. 912) or Inner Mongolia(OR=2. 305) were protective factor. Conclusion Health edu-cation on HIV / AIDS needs to be carried out based on the characteristics of the residents in west China.