Studies on Vulnerable Women: The Impact of Education on Reducing the Risk of AIDS

Women are potentially more susceptible to getting some diseases such as AIDS due to their especial physiology and anatomy. Recently, the third wave of HIV transmission through sex has risen. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of education on reducing the AIDS epidemic in vulnerable women regarding the age, education, occupation, marital status and other potential parameters such as using condom and having multiple sex partners. The study was conducted as a semi-experimental trial with pre-, post-education intervention on 46 vulnerable women referring to Behavioral Health Counseling Center and Special Center for Counseling Vulnerable Women. Women received education package in three stages (before, one week after and two months after education). Data were collected by questionnaire in which two parts existed. The first part included demographic questions and the second part was in regard to the questions about knowledge, attitude, practice and the risky behaviors. Data were evaluated statistically using SPSS version 21 and descriptive tests, t-tests, and (Analysis of Variance) ANOVA. The results demonstrated that the mean (SD) age of samples was 31.08 ± 6.9 with the maximum and minimum of 20 and 45, respectively of them 43% of them were in the age range of 26 - 35 years. About 70% and 76% of the samples were housewives and undergraduate, respectively. Regarding the martial state, 56.5% of them were either unmarried or widow/separate. The significant difference between before and after intervention was the use of condoms (p <0/001). There was not a statistically significant difference (p <0.07) when comparing those with numerous sexual partner pre-, post-education intervention. The appropriate method of educational interventions provided positive effects in increasing participats’knowledge in using condom. The education intervention did not lead to modify multiple sex partners to uni-sex partner for some reasons of them lack of socio-family support and economic situation was the most important.

کلیدواژه ها:

AIDS ، Education ، Vulnerable Women