Knowledge about sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDS among married women of reproductive age in Rural Nepal

Abstract

The study on knowledge about STIs and HIV/AIDs among married women of reproductive age was conducted in Gaupalika Ward No. 3, Dhunkharkha in Kavrepalanchowk district. The study design was descriptive cross sectional and the sample size was 420 married women of reproductive age. The highest percentages of the respondents were in the age group between 25-29 years with 91 respondent's (21 percentage). The highest frequency was among the Brahmin with 283 respondents accounting for 67 percent and most of them were from Hindu religion of 347 women with 83 percentage. Most of the respondent 330 (79%) were found to be staying with their husband. Education status of the respondent seems to be unsatisfied where 151(36%) had never attended school. Majority of the respondent's occupation was housewives and agriculture with 97 percent and 95 percent respectively. Most of the respondents (85%) were found to be living with their husband and 13 percent of the respondent's husbands are abroad. Women empowerment is an important component in the study where most of the women are found to be involved in some kind of cooperatives and mother's group where 77 respondents (18%) were not involved in any kind of institutions. Most of the respondents were married at young age 9-15 years (23 %) and 16-20 years (64%). Most of the respondents were found that they have knowledge on male condom (93%) than the female condom (25%). Most of the respondents (65%) answered that their husband are not using condom where only 4 percent of the respondent answered that their husband using regular condom. The main reason for not using condom was they felt no need to use which was answered by 197 respondents (73%). About 92 percent of the respondents had heard about STIs, among them 98 percent had heard of HIV/AIDs, 66 percent about Syphilis, 33 percent about Herpes Zoster and 16 percent about Gonorrhoea. When asked about the knowledge on sign and symptoms, most of the respondents have some knowledge on sign and symptoms where only 6 percent do not have any knowledge on the signs and symptoms that can happen. When the respondents were asked if they have any mentioned sign and symptoms, all the respondents mentioned they have at least one sign and symptoms and majority of them have back pain and abdominal pain. When asked if the respondent's husbands have any symptoms, 27 respondent's husband have pain during urination, 5 have itching around penis and 3 have foul smelling discharge from penis. When asked to the respondents how STIs can be transmitted most of them gave correct answers where about 10 percent gave wrong answer and 10 percent don't know the answer. Most of the respondents provided correct answer on ways of preventing STIs. Most of the respondents (97%) were found that they have heard of HIV/AIDs and most of them have some kind of knowledge on mode of transmission and preventative measures of HIV/AIDs.