Community Attitudes Towards Preventive Measures For Hiv/Aids Infections In Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

A study to assess community attitudes towards HIV/AIDS prevention was conducted

in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, between November 2007 and January 2008. A

total of 100 randomly selected households were included in this study, located in five

wards randomly selected from the 19 wards of the municipality. Data were collected

using questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions (the latter conducted in a

different subpopulation). Data were analysed using statistical package for social

sciences (SPSS) version 11.5, whereby eigenvalues for key statements were

computed following data reduction/ Principal Component Analysis. The study

revealed high knowledge of the community on HIV/AIDS. The community had

positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS preventive measures except the use of condoms.

Factors that hindered the use of HIV/AIDS preventive measures included alcoholism,

low knowledge on some preventive measures e.g. the use of condoms, economic

factors, drug abuse, marital status, religion and emotional factors. The study

recommends promotion of HIV/AIDS control strategies that are accepted by the

community. Further studies are needed to assess whether the accepted strategies are

implemented by the community.

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