Knowledge and Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and Sexual Risk Behaviors in the Elderly in Chiang Mai Province - ความรู้ และทัศนคติต่อการติดเชื้อเอชไอวี/เอดส์และพฤติกรรมเสี่ยงทางเพศของผู้สูงอายุในจังหวัดเชียงใหม่่

Abstract

          HIV/AIDS has taken a deadly toll on number of people. Eventhough the campaign of HIV/ AIDS prevention has continually been active, the people aged 50 and above are usually overlooked. However they are directly and indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS. This study was aimed at investigating knowledge and attitudes toward AIDS and sexual risk behaviors among persons aged 50 and over in Mueang, Doi-Saket, Doi-Lor and Mae-On districts in Chiang Mai province. The sample consisted of 449 older adults who completed a questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and sexual risk behaviors. The study was conducted from January to December, 2005. Descriptive statistics with frequency and percentage were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that 76.2 percent of the subjects had a moderate level of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Only 14.5 percent had good knowledge. Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS were found at a moderate level among 58.4 percent of samples and 41 percent had good attitudes. At present, 80.6 percent of the subjects had no sexual relationship but there were many high risk sexual behaviors in the past 10 years, for example, not using condoms while having sex and having unsafe sex with commercial sex workers. The remaining 19.4 percent who were still sexually active were somewhat at risk to HIV/AIDS such as having unprotective sex. The study indicates that the promotion of knowledge and prevention of HIV/AIDS along with attitudes should be applied to the population over 50' s to reduce HIV infection.

Key words: knowledge, attitudes, AIDS, sexual risk behaviors, elderly