 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Heather L. Roberto, MPH and Carl G. Leukefeld, DSW. Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, 643 Maxwelton Court, Lexington, KY 40506, (859) 323-3792, hlrobe2@uky.edu
Two-hundred probationers in 29 rural Appalachian Kentucky counties were surveyed on HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis knowledge levels as part of a larger HIV/AIDS risk reduction study. Correlations between HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis knowledge and selected demographics, drug use and treatment history, health status, health service use, and incarceration were examined. Although none of the probationers tested positive for HIV, 1.5% reported testing positive for Hepatitis B, and 5% reported testing positive for Hepatitis C. On average, probationers answered 4 out of 5 questions about their Hepatitis knowledge and 13 out of 16 questions about their HIV/AIDS knowledge correctly. There was a positive relationship between participant's HIV/AIDS knowledge score and education level, age, use of marijuana, and voluntary entry into a drug treatment program. A negative relationship between length of time incarcerated and level of HIV/AIDS knowledge was also found. Hepatitis knowledge, however, was not significantly related to participants' demographic or drug use status. Only the number of times incarcerated was found to be negatively related to Hepatitis knowledge. This finding suggests that health education that includes Hepatitis information should be available to felony probationers in treatment programs and other institutional programs. Hepatitis infection may go undetected, which underscores the need to incorporate Hepatitis risk identification and reduction education into health programs. In addition, specific suggestions for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis education and prevention are provided.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Hepatitis B, HIV Interventions
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.