Awareness about the modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission and a stigmatizing attitude: Results of a survey of military-aged men

Objective. To study military-aged men’s awareness of the modes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, the characteristics of a stigmatizing attitude towards HIV-infected people, and perception of a risk for infection. Materials and methods. The evaluation was conducted using a questionnaire survey in October-December 2016. A total of 509 men living in the Central Administrative District of Moscow were surveyed. The respondents’ age ranged from 17 to 26 years. The 18-year-old age group was represented as the most presented group (39.88%). The proportion of the survey participants under 20 years of age was 73.09%. Results. The proportion of military-aged men who correctly answered 3 questions, indicators about the modes of HIV transmission, was 25.54%. 60.11% of the respondents favored a condom in preventing HIV infection. 24.16% of the respondents agreed that mosquitoes transmitted HIV; 16.31% considered that HIV could be got from sharing the dish used by an infected person; and 54.43% deemed that HIV could be transmitted to a donor during blood donation. 72.55% of the respondents were against the human right to confidentiality of the diagnosis of HIV infection; 47.86% agreed that HIV-infected people led a mindless lifestyle; 44.8% did not agree to share a room with an HIV- infected person. Conclusion. The deficit awareness of the target group about HIV infection and the presence of a stigmatizing attitude towards and distorted ideas about the modes of HIV transmission are not conducive to adopting the forms of behavior that is less dangerous in regard to HIV infection. Lack of perception of the HIV infection-associated issues as individually significant ones is one of the obstacles to preventive work. Motivation for less dangerous behavior forms during brief preventive conversations, including in the format of counselling during HIV testing.

HIV infection, awareness, prevention stigma