STUDY ON HIV/AIDS RELATED KNOWLEDGE AMONG GUANGDONG RESIDENTS

[Objective] To study the HIV/AIDS related knowledge among Guangdong residents in order to provide scientific basis for formulating HIV /AIDS control policy. [Methods] Multiple stage random sampling was used to enroll residents who have lived in Guangdong for more than six months into the cross-sectional study. 21 counties /districts were selected from 21 prefectures,and 320 residents were selected from these selected areas to face-to-face interview by trained investigators with uniformed questionnaires. [Results] A total of 6573 residents from 21 counties /districts were interviewed. Among these residents,males accounted for 47.3% and females accounted for 52.4%. The mean age was 43.7 years old,and persons above 40 years accounted for 59.5%. The education level of the residents investigated was below primary school education,accounted for 46.4%. 78.9% of the participants had heard of HIV /AIDS and the main sources were TV,newspaper,and broadcast. The factors associated with HIV /AIDS related knowledge were age,marriage status,education level,and living county /district. [Conclusion] The awareness rate of HIV /AIDS knowledge among Guangdong residents was low. Propaganda and health education should be strengthened especially in the countryside. The main mass media should be TV,broadcast and newspapers.