a population-based study into knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (kab) about hiv/aids

conclusions this study showed that we must put more effort in translating knowledge into behavior. background it has been reported that three factors may be responsible for the social stigma associated with disease: widespread ignorance, little information and misconceptions about the disease in society. objectives this study is aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about hiv/aids in residents of mashhad, the largest city in northeast iran. patients and methods a cross sectional study was conducted over three days, starting on december 1 2013, since this day was the world’s aids day. each day the investigating group carried out the study in a different crowded place in the city. using a convenience sampling method, members of the public were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which included the world health organization’s instrument for assessing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about hiv/aids. the data obtained were evaluated by frequency and percentage ratios, chi-square (χ2), mann-whitney and kruskal-wallis tests, using the significance level p < 0.05. results three hundred and eighty five individuals participated in this study. the median age was 27 years and the interquartile range was 21 - 45 years. the data analysis showed that most participants had good knowledge in this general domain: 70.2% of the answers in this domain were correct (47.1% in males and 23.1% in females). in general, the respondents’ attitudes toward aids were found to be tolerable and the total score showed significant differences according to educational level (p < 0.001). the majority of the respondents indicated that television, newspapers, magazines, and books were their major sources of information about aids. approximately 80% of participants needed specific information about the disease, with the prevention methods being the most frequently requested information.