PDF, 1536K - Measure DHS

Regions vary by source of information on AIDS. Eighty-eight percent of women in Addis Ababa
and 95 percent of men in Dire Dawa mentioned radio as a source. On the other hand, 86 percent of
women in the Amhara Region and 85 percent of men in the SNNP Region heard of AIDS at community
meetings. Educated women and men are more likely to get information on AIDS from the media than
respondents with no education. Community meetings were the main source of information for
respondents who have no education.
12.2 KNOWLEDGE OF HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
To ascertain the depth of knowledge about
HIV/AIDS, respondents who had heard of the
infection were asked whether there is anything a
person can do to avoid getting infected with the
virus that causes AIDS and if so, what. Table 12.3
shows the percentage of all women and men who
spontaneously mentioned specific ways to avoid
contracting the disease. Three times as many
women (23 percent) as men (8 percent) have not
heard of AIDS or do not know whether it can be
avoided. Five percent of women and 3 percent of
men stated that there is no way to avoid getting
AIDS, and 29 percent of women and 6 percent of
men do not know a specific way to avoid
contracting AIDS.
Most respondents (53 percent of women
and 70 percent of men) believe that having sex
with only one partner is the single most effective
way to avoid contracting HIV. Men were also twice
as likely as women to mention using condoms
(36 percent and 17 percent, respectively). A
sizable percentage of women and men also
mentioned avoiding sharing razors/blades
(26 percent and 31 percent, respectively). More
men than women state that abstaining from sex
and avoiding sex with prostitutes can help prevent
the risk of getting AIDS.
Table 12.3 Knowledge of ways to avoid HIV/AIDS
Percentage of women and men who spontaneously mention
ways to avoid HIV/AIDS, Ethiopia 2000
_________________________________________________
Ways to avoid HIV/AIDS Women Men
_________________________________________________
Does not know AIDS or if it can
be avoided 22.5 7.5
Believes no way to avoid 5.3 2.9
Does not know specific way 28.8 6.2
Abstain from sex 10.8 17.1
Use condoms 17.1 35.6
Limit sex to one partner/stay
faithful to one partner 52.6 69.6
Limit number of sexual partners 6.3 7.3
Avoid sex with prostitutes 10.2 18.4
Avoid sex with persons who have
many partners 2.3 1.6
Avoid sex with homosexuals 0.1 0.1
Avoid blood transfusions 2.4 4.2
Avoid injections with unclean needles 12.4 15.1
Avoid kissing 2.1 1.0
Avoid mosquito bites 0.1 0.2
Seek protection from tradititional healer 0.4 0.3
Avoid sharing razors/blades 26.0 30.7
Other ways 9.1 4.8
Total 15,367 2,607
Abstaining from sex, using condoms, and limiting the number of sexual partners have been
identified as programmatically important ways to avoid the spread of HIV/AIDS. The extent of
respondents’ knowledge about these ways can be ascertained from Tables 12.4.1 and 12.4.2. Women
are much less knowledgeable about programmatically important ways to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS
than men. Women are four times more likely than men to have not heard of AIDS or not know of a
programmatically important way to avoid HIV/AIDS. Thirty-two percent of women and 29 percent of
men know of one way, and 37 percent of women and 63 percent of men know of two or three ways to
avoid HIV/AIDS. One in three women and three in five men mentioned the use of condoms as a specific
way to avoid HIV/AIDS, while two in three women and nine in ten men mentioned limiting the number
of partners as a specific way to avoid HIV/AIDS. Residence and education are the two most influential
background characteristics on respondents’ knowledge of programmatically important ways to avoid
contracting HIV/AIDS. Not surprisingly, women and men residing in urban areas are much
HIV/AIDS and Other STIs* 163