Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
Cult Health Sex. 2013;15(3):296-310. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2012.752107. Epub 2012 Dec 14.
Biomedical and social cognitive models driving HIV preventive activities in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly premised on factual and accurate knowledge of the disease. While knowledge about HIV exists in most parts of Africa, there is widespread belief in myths that often contradict and undermine preventive efforts. Using the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey and applying logit models, we examined what influences belief in myths and misconceptions surrounding HIV transmission among Ghanaian men and women. Results indicate that respondents with high knowledge of how HIV may be transmitted had lower odds of endorsing myths about the disease. Compared to the less educated and poorer Ghanaians, educated and wealthier Ghanaians were less likely to endorse myths about HIV. Also, compared to the Akan people, respondents identifying with other ethnic groups were significantly less likely to endorse myths. The findings suggest that policy makers provide accurate information about how the disease is spread to counter myths surrounding HIV transmission.
生物医学和社会认知模型推动了撒哈拉以南非洲的艾滋病预防活动,这些模型大多基于对该疾病的准确知识。尽管非洲大部分地区都有关于艾滋病毒的知识,但人们普遍相信一些神话,这些神话常常与预防措施相矛盾,并破坏预防措施。本文利用 2008 年人口与健康调查数据,采用逻辑回归模型,研究了哪些因素影响加纳男女对艾滋病传播相关误解和错误观念的信仰。结果表明,对艾滋病传播方式有更多了解的受访者不太可能相信与艾滋病相关的神话。与教育程度较低和较贫穷的加纳人相比,受教育程度较高和较富裕的加纳人不太可能相信艾滋病的神话。此外,与阿肯人相比,认同其他族裔群体的受访者不太可能相信与艾滋病相关的神话。研究结果表明,决策者应提供有关该疾病传播方式的准确信息,以对抗与艾滋病传播相关的神话。