How Gender and High-Risk Sexual Behavior are related to HIV/AIDS as a Result of Insufficient Awareness/Misinformation and Abuse of Psychoactive Substances among Merchants? | Insight Medical Publishing

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge about HIV, substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices among merchants in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Methodology: A study was conducted of awareness, attitudes, and practices involving 2,256 randomly selected merchants in the six major open-air markets of Kinshasa from August to September 2016. Data was collected using a standard questionnaire targeting true and incorrect knowledge/misinformation about HIV, high-risk sexual practices and consumption and abuse of psychoactive substances. The means of transmission and the preventive measures were considered as dependent variables. Logistic regression revealed determinants at P<0.005. Results: ？ The mean age was 38.2 ± 12.9 years with a gender ratio of 1H: 1F. ？ 77% were educated. ？ 53% had insufficient overall knowledge of HIV/AIDS. ？ 75% had unprotected sexual practices. ？ 47% reported incorrect overall knowledge. ？ Age >25 years old, consumption of psychoactive substances and low level of education were the determinants for lack of knowledge/misinformation. ？ Age <45 years old, male, high-level of education, unmarried and abuse of psychoactive substances were the determinants of high-risk sexual behavior. ？ The consumption of psychoactive substances was more frequent in males. Conclusion: The young, educated merchants in Kinshasa had a low overall level of education on HIV/AIDS, worsen by erroneous knowledge. They had sexual risk behaviors mediated by male gender, unmarried status and the psychoactive substances abuse.