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Knowledge Of Aids

Condom Use and the Accuracy of AIDS knowledge
Across Africa, the HIV virus has spread
mostly through sexual intercourse. The healthcare professionals and researchers are trying to find out if people are most likely to take precaution in protecting themselves from the virus by using condoms. Their main focus was in the southern and eastern parts of Africa, where 1 in 4 adults are HIV positive. A Demographic and Health Survey was done in 1994 and revealed that "92% of men and 80% of women" were able to mention at least one method that HIV is contracted; through sexual transmission. However, only 23% of the men and 7% of women indicated that they use condoms. Many AIDS Awareness and family planning programs promote the use of condoms as being a major source of protection, however there were negative attitudes that came about when it was mentioned. Many of the Africans have suggested that condoms are a sign of unfaithfulness and mistrust. And for the men who agree with the use of the condom, availability was a problem.
African men have majority of the control in decision making with regards to sexual encounters. An example was used from the men of Zimbabwe, they "expressed the belief that women need their partners' permission to use contraceptives"(Zellner,2003). Because of this man power of females, women tend to be placed in situations where they increase their risk of sexual transmitted diseases including HIV.
Another study was done with men who were truck drivers. The researchers found that 72% of married men had multiple sex partners and 60% were unwilling to use condoms because they did not like the way they felt and were unaware of the risk of unprotected sex. Condoms are not the most common method of contraception for women. Several of the men also have interactions with sex workers. "With almost 70% of sex workers carrying HIV," the men have sex with those who do not insist on using condoms.
Among secondary and college students,...