HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho

dc.contributor.authorKalula, Sebastiana Zimba
dc.contributor.authorBlouws, Tarryn
dc.contributor.authorRamathebane, Maseabata
dc.contributor.authorSayed, Abdul‑Rauf
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-13T12:44:05Z
dc.date.available2023-06-13T12:44:05Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractBackground Population ageing and access to anti-retroviral therapies in South Africa have resulted in ageing of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has implications for policy, planning and practice. Impactful interventions on HIV/ AIDS for older persons require knowledge on effects of the pandemic on this population. A study was undertaken to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of HIV/AIDS, as well as health literacy (HL) level of a population aged ≥ 50 years. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted at three sites in South Africa and two sites in Lesotho with an educational intervention at the South African sites. At baseline, data were collected for assessment of KAP of HIV/AIDS and HL levels. The pre- and post-intervention comprised participants at South African sites being familiarised with the contents of a specially constructed HIV/AIDS educational booklet. Participants’ KAP was reassessed six weeks later. A composite score of ≥ 75% was considered adequate KAP and an adequate HL level. Results The baseline survey comprised 1163 participants. The median age was 63 years (range 50–98 years); 70% were female, and 69% had ≤ 8 years’ education. HL was inadequate in 56% and the KAP score was inadequate in 64%. A high KAP score was associated with female gender (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.1), age < 65 years (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5–2.5) and education level (Primary school: AOR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4–3.4); (High school: AOR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.7–7.0); (University/college: AOR = 9.6; 95% CI = 4.7–19.7). HL was positively associated with education but no association with age or gender. The educational intervention comprised 614 (69%) participants. KAP scores increased post intervention: 65.2% of participants had adequate knowledge, versus 36% pre-intervention. Overall, younger age, being female and higher education level were associated with having adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS, both pre- and post-intervention. Conclusions The study population had low HL, and KAP scores regarding HIV/AIDS were poor but improved following an educational intervention. A tailored educational programme can place older people centrally in the fight against the epidemic, even in the presence of low HL. Policy and educational programmes are indicated to meet the information needs of older persons, which are commensurate with the low HL level of a large section of that population.en_US
dc.identifier.apacitationKalula, S. Z., Blouws, T., Ramathebane, M., & (2023). HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho. <i>BMC Geriatrics</i>, 23(279), 1-16. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKalula, Sebastiana Zimba, Tarryn Blouws, Maseabata Ramathebane, and "HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho." <i>BMC Geriatrics</i> 23, 279. (2023): 1-16. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKalula, S.Z., Blouws, T., Ramathebane, M. & 2023. HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho. <i>BMC Geriatrics.</i> 23(279):1-16. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955en_ZA
dc.identifier.risTY - Journal Article AU - Kalula, Sebastiana Zimba AU - Blouws, Tarryn AU - Ramathebane, Maseabata AU - Sayed, Abdul‑Rauf AB - Background Population ageing and access to anti-retroviral therapies in South Africa have resulted in ageing of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has implications for policy, planning and practice. Impactful interventions on HIV/ AIDS for older persons require knowledge on effects of the pandemic on this population. A study was undertaken to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of HIV/AIDS, as well as health literacy (HL) level of a population aged ≥ 50 years. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted at three sites in South Africa and two sites in Lesotho with an educational intervention at the South African sites. At baseline, data were collected for assessment of KAP of HIV/AIDS and HL levels. The pre- and post-intervention comprised participants at South African sites being familiarised with the contents of a specially constructed HIV/AIDS educational booklet. Participants’ KAP was reassessed six weeks later. A composite score of ≥ 75% was considered adequate KAP and an adequate HL level. Results The baseline survey comprised 1163 participants. The median age was 63 years (range 50–98 years); 70% were female, and 69% had ≤ 8 years’ education. HL was inadequate in 56% and the KAP score was inadequate in 64%. A high KAP score was associated with female gender (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.1), age < 65 years (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5–2.5) and education level (Primary school: AOR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4–3.4); (High school: AOR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.7–7.0); (University/college: AOR = 9.6; 95% CI = 4.7–19.7). HL was positively associated with education but no association with age or gender. The educational intervention comprised 614 (69%) participants. KAP scores increased post intervention: 65.2% of participants had adequate knowledge, versus 36% pre-intervention. Overall, younger age, being female and higher education level were associated with having adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS, both pre- and post-intervention. Conclusions The study population had low HL, and KAP scores regarding HIV/AIDS were poor but improved following an educational intervention. A tailored educational programme can place older people centrally in the fight against the epidemic, even in the presence of low HL. Policy and educational programmes are indicated to meet the information needs of older persons, which are commensurate with the low HL level of a large section of that population. DA - 2023 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 279 J1 - BMC Geriatrics KW - HIV/AIDs, Knowledge attitudes and practices, Health literacy, Older persons, South Africa, Lesotho LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2023 T1 - HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho TI - HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955 ER -en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKalula SZ, Blouws T, Ramathebane M, . HIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesotho. BMC Geriatrics. 2023;23(279):1-16. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37955.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Geriatric Medicineen_US
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_US
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en_US
dc.sourceBMC Geriatricsen_US
dc.source.journalissue279en_US
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume23en_US
dc.source.journalvolume23
dc.source.journalvolume
dc.source.pagination1-16en_US
dc.source.pagination279
dc.source.urihttps://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/
dc.subjectHIV/AIDs, Knowledge attitudes and practices, Health literacy, Older persons, South Africa, Lesothoen_US
dc.titleHIV and AIDS prevention: knowledge, attitudes, practices and health literacy of older persons in the Western Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal Provinces, South Africa and in Lesothoen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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