Elangovan Subbiah
Perak Tengah District Health Department, Seri Iskandar
Correspondence· Dr Elangovan Subbiah: email:
CITATION: Elangovan Subbiah. A study of knowledge, attitude and behaviour on AIDS/STD among immigrant workers in an Indian restaurant, Selangor, Malaysia. International Medical Research Journal. 2002;6(1):45–7.
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, practice and behaviour among immigrant workers in a restaurant regarding HIV, AIDS and STD. All 36 immigrant workers with mean age 32 years in an Indian restaurant were personally interviewed with a pre-tested questionnaire. Of these. 83% were Indians and 97% had heard of AIDS, 67% said it was caused by germs but only I I o/o were confident that it was a virus. Thirty four percent had poor knowledge on AIDS, 89% agreed that it can spread, 91 % said it can cause death and 97% said it can be prevented. All agreed that AIDS can be prevented by avoiding high risk behaviours with prostitutes, homosexuals and drug addicts. Sixty seven percent agreed that condom usage can prevent AIDS; 71 % agreed there was no cure for AIDS. Eighty three percent would give up high risk behaviours if one of their closest partners had AIDS; 94% said they would not indulge in sexual relationship with their partners if they had AIDS. Seventy five percent had sexual experience before working here, 20% had multiple sexual partners, 3% indulged in homosexual activities, and 14% never used condoms. None was treated for STD. None was an intravenous drug addict and 71% would give up their indiscriminate sexual activities after knowing about AIDS.
KEYWORDS: behaviour, HIV, AIDS, STD, immigrant workers
