Awareness of People on HIV/ AIDS in Bangladesh

Abstract

Attempts have been made in this study to examine awareness of people on HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh, using the data from field level and Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2007 (BDHS). Some statistical techniques are used to investigate the significance between selected dependent and independent variables. Raising awareness of respondents about the long run effects of these diseases is the principal objective of reproductive health programs recently executed in the world. This study gives an idea about floating and frequently moving and permanent resident respondent's perception about these types of health problems. It is expected that the result of this study will play a vital role to asses the national population policy and will help policy makers to formulate better policies in order to fight against the current situation. It has been found from the survey data that about 92 percent floating respondents heard the name of HIV/ AIDS by various sources of media; On the other hand, the same amount (99.00%) frequently moving and permanent resident heard the name of HIV/AIDS by various sources of media. But 52 percent floating, 31 percent frequently moving and 28.40 percent permanent residents don't know the fearfulness of HIV/ AIDS. It is also found that uncontrolled and unsafe sexual relation is the main cause of HIV/AIDS. Also, they know only safety way to avoid HIV/AIDS is condom during intercourse. Further, all the variables (respondent's age, marital status, educational level and occupation) of contingency analysis are significantly associated with HIV/AIDS in permanent resident respondents but the same variables were not seen in floating respondents. In multivariate logistic analysis, it has found that in case of floating respondents variables like respondent's age, marital status, educational level and occupation exert the significant effect on the knowledge about the fearfulness of HIV/AIDS whereas in respect of permanent residents variables like age and marital status exert the significant effect on the knowledge about the fearfulness of HIV/AIDS. Further, the study provide a brief impression of the major findings of respondents' personal experience regarding HIV/ AIDS situation by the descriptive way through compare and evaluation with affected and non-affected respondent's personal opinion and vivid picture of respondents' perception about HIV/AIDS.