Download Identifying Research Question and Objectives

Knowledge, attitude and practices
about HIV in the rural areas of the
24 Parganas district, West Bengal
Identifying a research question and study
objectives
1. Background on HIV in West Bengal
• The HIV pandemic continues to expand
• India has a large number of infected
individuals and has not yet controlled
transmission
• While West Bengal is not among the states
with highest prevalence, prevalence is
increasing
2. Public health problem statement
Sentinel surveillance data suggest that the
prevalence of HIV infection among women
attending the ante-natal clinics in the South
24-Parganas district of West Bengal, India
increased from 0.58% in 2004 to 2.14% in
2005
3. Public health importance
• Burden
 In the absence of universal treatment, HIV
infection still leads to death
 Even treated, HIV infection causes disability
 HIV infection in women leads to transmission to
children
• Possible interventions
 IEC is effective
 Transmission can be stopped
4. Analysis of the problem
Direct
contributing
factors
Migrations
Consequences
-Increase in
HIV prevalence
-Increase in
children born
with HIV
Health
problem
HIV
transmission
among
rural
women
Determinants
Unsafe sexual
practices
Multiple partners
Low participation
in awareness
campaigns
Lack of IEC
in rural areas
Increased condom
availability
Specific IEC activities
in rural areas targeting
The women
5. Planned, ongoing or completed
interventions
• Existing interventions
 Good IEC activities in urban areas and in high-risk
groups (including targeted interventions)
 Annual campaign for sexually transmitted
diseases (Family Health Awareness CampaignFHAC) in rural areas
• Status of these interventions
 IEC activities are lacking in rural areas
 Poor participation of the rural population in the
FHAC
5. Information missing to
prevent more effectively
• Summary of what is already established
 Prevalence of HIV is increasing in the rural South 24Parganas
 Specific IEC interventions can be effective
 The effectiveness of IEC campaigns can be increased if the
knowledge, attitudes and practices are understood
• Summary of the unknown
 The outbreak could be shifting from urban to rural areas
 Awareness of women in rural areas about the disease, its
transmission and measures for prevention
7. Research question
To better run prevention IEC activities, we
wish we would know how women in the rural
areas of the 24-P district perceive the risks
associated with the HIV outbreak and the
active steps they could take to protect
themselves
9. Objectives of the study among women
of rural areas of the 24-P district, West
Bengal
• Estimate the frequency of specific
knowledge, attitudes and practices with
respect to:
 HIV infection
 Steps that can be taken for prevention
• Identify vulnerable women who may lack key
elements to engage in safer practices
10. Future benefit
• Special IEC package for rural areas that
could be used in the whole state of West
Bengal
• Population groups that need to be
specifically targeted for IEC activities