Community knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its relationship with sexual practices in Tabora and Igunga Districts, western Tanzania

HIV/AIDS represents one of the critical challenges to human development in sub Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its relationship with sexual practices among communities in Tabora and Igunga Districts in western Tanzania. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, which included interviews and group discussions. A total of 568 participants (female=49%; males= 51%) were involved in the study. Two hundred and eighty-four of the respondents were adults (>25 years) and 284 were youths of 12 – 25 years. The results showed although the knowledge of the disease and its prevention was high (90%) among the community, some gaps regarding the knowledge on modes of transmission were observed. About 17.2% of the respondents reported to have multiple sexual partners and only about half of the respondents reported the use of condoms. The level of education correlated significantly with the individual knowledge on HIV/AIDS (P=0.003). There was no significant difference between urban and rural communities on their knowledge on HIV/AIDS (P>0.05). Health education on HIV/AIDS prevention needs to be strengthened and improved to include cognitive behavioural interventions that emphasize attitude changes, negotiation skills and decisionmaking skills that could be effective in changing and maintaining safe sexual behaviour.