Document 0306
 DOCN  M9650306
 TI    Female partners of AIDS patients in Uganda: reported knowledge,
       perceptions and plans.
 DT    9605
 AU    Baingana G; Choi KH; Barrett DC; Byansi R; Hearst N; Department of
       Medicine, New Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
 SO    AIDS. 1995 Jul;9 Suppl 1:S15-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96085739
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To assess reported knowledge of a partner's AIDS diagnosis,
       perceived risk of HIV infection, need for HIV testing and future support
       plans among women partners of male Ugandan AIDS patients. SUBJECTS AND
       METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted at New
       Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. The subjects were women partners of
       consecutive male AIDS patients admitted to medical wards. RESULTS: Only
       12% reported their partner's AIDS diagnosis; women who reported knowing
       were less likely to be financially dependent on the partner. Most women
       (76%) reported being at risk of HIV; in general, these women were older,
       in a newer relationship, had less children and were in customary rather
       than civil or cohabiting marriages. More than half (56%) of the women
       reported a need for HIV testing, though few (5%) had been tested. Those
       who stated the need for HIV testing were in a newer relationship, had
       less children and were more financially independent of their husbands;
       women in a cohabiting type marriage were less likely to report their
       need for testing than those in a civil or customary marriage. About half
       (56%) reported plans for future support if their husbands did not
       recover; these women were more likely to be in an older relationship and
       to have more children. CONCLUSIONS: Most women partners of AIDS patients
       in New Mulago Hospital reported no knowledge of their husbands'
       diagnosis. Over half perceived a need to be tested but very few reported
       having been tested, and only half reported having planned for the future
       of their families. Interventions are urgently needed to address barriers
       to knowledge and to acknowledgement of a partner's AIDS diagnosis, to
       HIV testing and to planning for the future.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/
       PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Adult  AIDS Serodiagnosis/PSYCHOLOGY
       Cross-Sectional Studies  *Developing Countries  Family Characteristics
       Female  Human  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male  Sex Behavior
       *Sexual Partners/PSYCHOLOGY  Socioeconomic Factors  Support, Non-U.S.
       Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Uganda  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).