Hiv Prevalence, Knowledge, and Attitudes and Reported Sti-related Symptoms among the Mobile Khmer Population in Rural Vietnam

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV, the correlates of HIV knowledge, positive attitudes towards HIV-infected persons (PosAttitude-HIV) and specific sexually transmitted infections (STI) related symptoms (Spe-STI-Sym) among mobile Khmer Vietnamese. Methods: Information about socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics, STI history, and HIV knowledge and attitudes were collected from 397 mobile Khmer Vietnamese in Soctrang province in 2005. Blood samples were taken for HIV and syphilis testing. Results: The prevalence of HIV and syphilis was 0.5% respectively. 34.3% reported having had an STI-related symptom in the past three months; 41% knew the three basic modes of HIV transmission (females 40.2%; males 41.9%), 15.6% had good HIV knowledge (females 14.1%; males 17.2%); and 61.9% had Pos-Attitude-HIV (females 62.9%; males 60.9%). Higher education level, being religious, having an occupation requiring a higher level of education, and reported Spe-STI-Sym were associated with good HIV knowledge. Knowing that monogamy can reduce sexual HIV transmission was less likely to be associated with Pos-Attitude-HIV, while knowing that a healthy-looking person can be HIV-positive was associated with higher likelihood of Pos-Attitude-HIV. Being married and daily alcohol consumption increased the risk of having Spe-STI-Sym. Those who worked in small businesses and barbershops or were workers, drivers, day-labourers’ or masons were at higher risk of developing Spe-STI-Sym than farmers, office staff, students, mechanics and the unemployed. Knowing that using condoms can prevent HIV reduced the risk of developing Spe-STI-Sym, with males less likely to report acquiring certain specific STI-related symptoms. Conclusions: Despite the low prevalence of HIV, inadequate knowledge of HIV and high reported STI-related symptoms suggest a potentially high risk for HIV/STI infection in mobile Khmer Vietnamese. Women had slightly lower HIV-related knowledge than men and were more likely to report acquiring certain specific STI-related symptoms. Programs for HIV/STI education, counselling, testing, and control should be promptly implemented, with the emphasis on education for women.