Investigating the Awareness and Attitude of Pregnant Women Visiting Health Centers about AIDS in Salmas, Iran

Background & aim: AIDS is an incurable, due to the presence of a latent viral reservoir, but preventable disease. Measuring awareness and attitudes towards AIDS in different populations in each region seems essential. Considering the vulnerability of pregnant women, this study aimed to investigate the awareness and attitude of pregnant women about AIDS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 pregnant women referred to medical centers, clinics, and health centers of Salmas, West Azerbaijan, Iran during eight months of sampling. To collect data self-structured awareness and attitude questionnaires were used. The data was analyzed using chi-square test and Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient using IBM SPSS [version 24.0]. Results: The results of the study showed that most of the women surveyed were from the urban population (60%), with high school education (39.5%), with a housewife job (70.5%), and their sources of information, were radio and television (35%). The level of awareness of pregnant women (61.5%) was assessed at the intermediate level. The positive attitude was observed in 76% of respondents. The attitude score did not show a significant relationship with the level of education and job, but it showed a significant relationship with their age. Conclusion: The level of awareness and attitude of the pregnant women under study was moderate and so relatively adequate. It is expected that with the expansion of scientific knowledge about AIDS, the awareness of people in each society to be increased.