Before and After Covid-19: What Has Changed in HIV Knowledge Level?

Abstract

Introduction: The most essential way to prevent the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), one of the most important communicable diseases, is to enhance public knowledge. Our study aimed to assess whether there were any changes in HIV knowledge following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods: In Turkey, information stands were established in Izmir on 1 December 2017 and in public locations in both Istanbul and Izmir on 1 December 2021 to providing education the public about HIV/AIDS. Prior to the educational intervention, a voluntary information survey was administered to 618 people aged 18 and older (149 pre-pandemic and 469 post-pandemic) The questionnaire consisted of seven questions designed to assess participants' knowledge about HIV. Participants were stratified by gender, marital status, and educational status, and responses were compared before and after the pandemic. Patient characteristics were reported as n (percentage) or mean ± SD (standard deviation) for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Nominal variables were reported as percentages and compared using two-tailed Chi-square or Fisher's test, where appropriate. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Comparing responses to all questions, the correct response rates before and after the pandemic were 57.62% and 73.77%, respectively. The rates for these questions were as follows: 59.29% and 79.63% for females, 47.31% and 78.57% for males; 48.78% and 75.47% for married individuals, 52.08% and 80.89% for single individuals; 39.38% and 56.43% for primary school graduates, 58.13% and 72.24% for secondary school graduates, 52.16% and 85.11% for university graduates, and 41.56% and 83.44% for master's degrees.

Conclusion: Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the level of HIV knowledge of the participants increased in the post-pandemic period. The increase in knowledge levels was more significant in men than in women and in single individuals than in married individuals. The greatest difference in terms of education status was observed among those with a master's degree or higher.