KNOWLEDGE, ACQUISITION AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF HIV IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

• Main Authors: Parveen, Kaur, Arif, Jawaid, Eshvin, Raj Singh, Fatricia Sheronne, Liman, Nanthini, Rajasegeran, Norain, Usop, Nur Athirah, Laili, Subashini, Sudhararaju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/31867/1/Parveen%20Kaur.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/31867/; http://www.sci-int.com/pdf/637344697203208680.edited.pdf

AIDS occurs due to the retrovirus HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus). In short, it is a reduction of immunity and makes the body vulnerable to infections which can cause fatality. Lately, the spread of HIV/AIDS has shown an upward trend. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the HIV trend in Kuching and provide guidance on how to successfully address the underlying factors that could influence the HIV contraction directly. The researchers have assessed how far is the understanding of PLHIV (people living with HIV) on HIV knowledge, the way of HIV acquisition in the Kuching community, and the underlying contributing factors of HIV transmission. A total of 35PLHIV in Kuching have answered our survey voluntarily and they were amongst the different races, religions, and sex. The researchers used the quantitative descriptive method. Findings revealed an overall 73% of the participants possessed knowledge about HIV. The highest modes of HIV transmission werethrough unprotected sexual relationships. Peer influence, lack of family bonding, history of abuse, and not giving importance on the HIV risk factors despite knowing that the information is readily available, were the among highest underlying contributing factors for the PLHIV to be engaged with the HIV risk behaviors. Prevention among high-riskindividuals and within the community is important as there is no drug to cure AIDS and no vaccine to prevent HIV. Discrimination and stigma make people more vulnerable to HIV. This pushes them to the margins of society, where fear and poverty make access to HIV healthcare services complicated.