Modelling Predictive Factors of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards HIV/AIDS Transmission and Their Interlinked Role: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Lahore, Pakistan: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on HIV/AIDS Transmission

Fatima Majeed; Javeria Saleem; Sajid Hameed; Muhammad Ishaq; Muhammad Mohsin Aftab; Ruhma Shahzad

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v5i10.2395

Authors

Fatima Majeed Department of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Javeria Saleem Department of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Sajid Hameed Department of Public Health, Green International University, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Ishaq QA Higher Education Business School, Ulster University Partnership Program, London, United Kingdom
Muhammad Mohsin Aftab Department of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Ruhma Shahzad Department of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v5i10.2395

Keywords:

Knowledge-Attitude-Practice, Binary Logistic Regression, Odds Ratio, Confidence Interval, Predictive Model

Abstract

HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health challenge that disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (KAPs) and their interlinked role in preventing HIV/AIDS was of utmost importance for effective prevention and control efforts. Objective: To explore the current state of KAP related to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, emphasizing the interlinkage of these factors with each other. Methods: The present study was a facility-based cross-sectional study carried out with a sample size of 114 HIV patients who were enquired about their KAP using a predesigned questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS (version 24.0), chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Results: Approximately half of the respondents had good knowledge (43.9%) and attitudes (48.1%), while slightly more of them reported good practices (56.1%) regarding HIV/AIDS. The predictive model of KAP regarding HIV/AIDS showed that males (OR=4.25; 95%CI=1.42-12.73), females (OR=3.69; 95%CI=1.05-12.95), literate individuals (OR=2.90; 95%CI=1.35-6.25), and employed individuals (OR=2.35; 95%CI=1.08-5.13) were more likely to have sufficient levels of knowledge, with patients with good knowledge 2.54- and 3.30-fold more likely to have better attitudes (95%CI=1.19-5.44) and better practices (95%CI=1.50-7.28), respectively, and patients with better attitudes 12.59-fold more likely to have better practices (OR=12.59; 95%CI=5.06-31.29) regarding HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: Conclusively, the trends of KAP related to HIV/AIDS were taking a positive turn in Pakistan; however, there was still a large gap that has yet to be filled. There was a need to destigmatize the disease by disseminating the right information with concerted efforts.

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