Miscellaneous Articles on the Stigma of Infectious Diseases

"Among the findings and results of the study are the following:

Knowledge about STDs, HIV/AIDS and family planning is directly affected by exposure to adequate information. Misinformation, erroneous concepts and negative perspectives are important in the development of fears, rumors and taboos regarding STDs and HIV/AIDS. The influence of previous experience, gender and religion was also identified.

Stigmas and negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS inhibit awareness of one's own risk.

The project resulted in the implementation of strategies for the strengthening and development of interventions in the area of IECC. "

—Qualitative Study on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding STDs and HIV/AIDS with Focus Groups from the STDs and HIV/AIDS Prevention Pilot Project

Level of Hepatitis C knowledge

"Only 16% of the surgical residents knew that there was a vaccine for hepatitis A. Though 84% knew that there was no vaccine for hepatitis C, the majority (56%) were unaware that Hepatitis C Virus was a sexually transmitted disease and 82% did not know about the possibility of it being transmitted perinatally. Of all the subjects, 93% knew that Hepatitis C Virus could be transmitted through blood transfusion and 88% knew about its transmission through a needle-stick injury. As well, 65% did not know that Hepatitis C Virus is initially asymptomatic. Knowledge about the complications of Hepatitis C Virus was adequate. Most of the residents were unaware of the physical properties of the virus, i.e., what destroys it, thus they incorrectly estimated the seroconversion rates with exposure to patients. This finding correlates with another study.23 Overall, there were significant gaps in the knowledge of the hepatitis C virus transmission.

Attitudes

With regards to attitudes towards Hepatitis C Virus, 42% of the respondents said they would tell their patients about their own Hepatitis C Virus seropositivity and 64% of residents did not believe in interferon therapy. Of all the respondents, 40% were in a habit of reading medical literature at least once a week."

—Hepatitis C: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Orthopedic trainee surgeons in Pakistan