HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge Among Malaysian Young Adults: Findings From a Nationwide Survey

Wong, Li Ping and Chin, Caroline-Kwong Leng and Low, Wah Yun and Jaafar, Nasruddin (2008) HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge Among Malaysian Young Adults: Findings From a Nationwide Survey. The Medscape Journal of Medicine, 10 (6). p. 148. ISSN 1531-0132,

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Abstract

Purpose: HIV/AIDS poses a serious threat to young people, both in Malaysia and throughout the world. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/ AIDS among the Malaysian public. This article reports the findings of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young adults. Methods: A total of 1075 young adult respondents aged 15-24 years participated in this survey. The response rate was 82.2. Results: The data indicated that HIV/AIDS knowledge among the respondents was moderate, with a mean knowledge score of 20.1 out of 32 points. The great majority had adequate knowledge of the major routes of HIV transmission, but fewer were aware of other modes of transmission, such as tattooing and piercing, sharing personal items, and breast-feeding from an infected mother. The great majority knew that HIV is not transmitted by mosquito bites, sharing meals, casual contact, and using public swimming pools and toilets. Conclusions: Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS exist although generally knowledge on HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention was accurate. Education and intervention programs are needed to increase the level of knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS. The findings have important implications for the development of primary HIV/AIDS prevention programs for young adults in Malaysia. © 2008 Medscape.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	Cited By (since 1996): 10 Export Date: 3 July 2012 Source: Scopus Art. No.: 148 CODEN: MMGMC PubMed ID: 18679535 Language of Original Document: English Correspondence Address: Wong, L.P.; Health Research Development Unit (HeRDU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; email: wonglp@ummc.edu.my References: AIDS Epidemic Update (2006) UNAIDS, , http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/EpiUpdate/EpiUpdArchive/2006/Default.asp, December, Available at: Accessed November 28, 2007; Trajman, A., Belo, M.T., Teixeira, E.G., Knowledge about STD/AIDS and sexual behavior among high school students in Brazil (2003) Cad Saude Publica, 9, pp. 127-133; (2005) Youth and HIV/AIDS Factsheet: State of World Population 2005, , www.unfpa.org/swp/2005/presskit/factsheets/factsyouth.htm, New York: UNFPA;, Available at:, Accessed April 30, 2008; Reid, G., Kamarulzaman, A., Kaur Sran, S., Rapid Situation Assessment of Malaysia 2004. 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Uncontrolled Keywords:	acquired immune deficiency syndrome adolescent adult article awareness body piercing breast feeding controlled study female health care availability health education human Human immunodeficiency virus infection insect bite knowledge major clinical study Malaysia male meal medical information primary prevention sanitation scoring system screening test swimming pool tattooing vertical transmission virus transmission age attitude to health comparative study cross-sectional study disease transmission Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Age Factors Cross-Sectional Studies Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice HIV Infections Humans Young Adult
Subjects:	R Medicine > RK Dentistry
Divisions:	Faculty of Dentistry > Dept of Community Dentistry
Depositing User:	Mr Ahmad Azwan Azman
Date Deposited:	12 Jul 2012 03:20
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2020 08:25
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/3489

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