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Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

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AIDS/HIV/STI-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND13BEHAVIOUR13.1 INTRODUCTIONMargaret T. MwanamwengeHIV/AIDS remains a major concern in <strong>Zambia</strong> due to its high prevalence rates among both youth<strong>and</strong> adults. To reverse the epidemic, the Government of the Republic of <strong>Zambia</strong> through the NationalHIV/AIDS/STD/TB Council with the support of donors has implemented a number of programmes toreduce the spread of HIV. Programmes have focused on ensuring that individuals, families <strong>and</strong> communitieshave the correct <strong>and</strong> appropriate knowledge <strong>and</strong> information. A major focus of health interventions isbehaviour change to stem the spread of the epidemic.As a means to achieve this goal, information, education <strong>and</strong> communication messages are beingused to educate the public about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Public health research has documenteda strong correlation between STIs <strong>and</strong> vulnerability to HIV infection. AIDS control measureshave been directed at sensitizing the public that STIs are avoidable; however, if an STI is contracted, it isimportant to practice responsible sexual behaviour.In addition to the <strong>Zambia</strong> <strong>Demographic</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Survey</strong>s, the <strong>Zambia</strong> Sexual Behaviour <strong>Survey</strong>s(in 1998 <strong>and</strong> 2000) provide further measures of sexual behaviour <strong>and</strong> knowledge of HIV/AIDS preventionin the country. <strong>Zambia</strong>ns report a high level of knowledge of both HIV/AIDS transmission routes<strong>and</strong> prevention strategies.13.2 KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AIDS AND WAYS TO AVOID ITTable 13.1 shows that knowledge of AIDS is nearly universal, with 99 percent of women <strong>and</strong>men having heard of AIDS. There is no significant difference between women <strong>and</strong> men in knowledge ofAIDS. In comparison, the 2000 Sexual Behaviour <strong>Survey</strong> (SBS) indicated that 96 percent of both women<strong>and</strong> men had heard about HIV/AIDS, while that of the 1996 Z<strong>DHS</strong> was about 100 percent of both women<strong>and</strong> men. Exposure to higher levels of education is a key factor in improving knowledge about ways ofpreventing sexually transmitted diseases.There are no significant differences according to background characteristics in the knowledge ofAIDS. However, the proportion of women who believe AIDS can be avoided ranges from 80 percentamong women aged 15-19 to 89 percent among those age 30-39, from 59 percent in Western province to93 percent in Copperbelt province, <strong>and</strong> from 71 percent among women without any education to 99 percentamong those with more than secondary education. For men, the range in proportion of those whobelieve there is a way to avoid AIDS by province is narrower, from 85 percent in Southern province to97 percent in Central province.13.2.1 Knowledge of Ways to Avoid AIDSIn general, most <strong>Zambia</strong>ns know that HIV/AIDS can be prevented. Table 13.2 shows that whenasked to spontaneously mention ways to avoid AIDS, only 6 percent of women <strong>and</strong> 4 percent of men saythat AIDS is unavoidable, compared with 21 percent of women <strong>and</strong> 16 percent of men in the 2000 SBS.Among women, condom use (48 percent) is the most commonly mentioned way of avoiding HIV/AIDS,followed closely by faithfulness/limiting number of partners (46 percent) <strong>and</strong> abstinence (44 percent).AIDS/HIV/STI-Related Knowledge <strong>and</strong> Behaviour | 195

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