Important Gaps in HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Young Asylum Seekers in Comparison to the General Population

Overview

Journal J Immigr Minor Health

Publisher Springer

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2018 Feb 10

PMID 29423620

Citations 3

Authors

Paula Tiittala

Pia Kivela

Kirsi Liitsola

Jukka Ollgren

Sini Pasanen

Tuula Vasankari

Matti Ristola

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Migrants are disproportionately affected by HIV in many European countries, including Finland. We aimed to compare the HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of young asylum seekers to those of the general young adult population. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted among 20- to 25-year-old young adults: The TIE study among asylum seekers (n = 47) and the World AIDS Day 2014 study among the general population (n = 485). Important gaps in HIV KAP were identified especially among the young asylum seekers. For the general young adult population, previous HIV testing was associated with female gender, better HIV knowledge and increased sexual activity. Health education concerning HIV needs to be further enforced among young adults in Finland. Due to poorer HIV knowledge, young asylum seekers might be especially vulnerable to HIV. The asylum process is a window of opportunity for health education and HIV testing.

Citing Articles

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to AIDS amongst transgender women in Chongqing, China: a cross-sectional study.

Tan Y, Yang J, Cui Y, Zhou H, Zhao J, Ouyang L BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2522.

PMID: 39285344 PMC: 11406856. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19901-z.

Knowledge gaps related to HIV and condom use for preventing pregnancy: a cross-sectional study among migrants in Sweden.

Tirado V, Orsini N, Stromdahl S, Hanson C, Ekstrom A BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2334.

PMID: 39198761 PMC: 11351065. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19839-2.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Lebanon.

Youssef L, Hallit S, Sacre H, Salameh P, Cherfan M, Akel M PLoS One. 2021; 16(3):e0249025.

PMID: 33765069 PMC: 7993853. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249025.

References

Rios E, Ferrer L, Casabona J, Cayla J, Avecilla A, Gomez I Prat J . [Knowledge of HIV and sexually-transmitted diseases in Latin American and Maghrebi immigrants in Catalonia (Spain)]. Gac Sanit. 2009; 23(6):533-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2008.09.010. View

Karki T, Napoli C, Riccardo F, Fabiani M, Dente M, Carballo M . Screening for infectious diseases among newly arrived migrants in EU/EEA countries--varying practices but consensus on the utility of screening. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014; 11(10):11004-14. PMC: 4211019. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph111011004. View

Santos-Hovener C, Zimmermann R, Kucherer C, Batzing-Feigenbaum J, Wildner S, Hamouda O . Conversation about Serostatus decreases risk of acquiring HIV: results from a case control study comparing MSM with recent HIV infection and HIV negative controls. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14:453. PMC: 4046506. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-453. View

MacNeil J, HOGLE J . Applying social, behavioral and evaluation research to developing country HIV prevention programs. AIDS. 1998; 12 Suppl 2:S99-108. View

Johnson W, Hedges L, Diaz R . Interventions to modify sexual risk behaviors for preventing HIV infection in men who have sex with men. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003; (1):CD001230. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001230. View

Jablonka A, Solbach P, Nothdorft S, Hampel A, Schmidt R, Behrens G . [Low seroprevalence of syphilis and HIV in refugees and asylum seekers in Germany in 2015]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2016; 141(14):e128-32. DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-110627. View

Kuznetsov L, Matterne U, Crispin A, Ruzicka T, Zippel S, Kuznetsov A . Knowledge, attitude and behavioral intention to act regarding HIV infection and prevention in immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in Germany: a comparative study with the native population. J Immigr Minor Health. 2012; 15(1):68-77. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-012-9671-x. View

Dias S, Marques A, Gama A, Martins M . HIV risky sexual behaviors and HIV infection among immigrants: a cross-sectional study in Lisbon, Portugal. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014; 11(8):8552-66. PMC: 4143877. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110808552. View

Lazarus J, Himedan H, Ostergaard L, Liljestrand J . HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use among Somali and Sudanese immigrants in Denmark. Scand J Public Health. 2006; 34(1):92-9. DOI: 10.1080/14034940510032211. View

10.

Coppola N, Alessio L, Gualdieri L, Pisaturo M, Sagnelli C, Caprio N . Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in undocumented migrants and refugees in southern Italy, January 2012 to June 2013. Euro Surveill. 2015; 20(35):30009. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2015.20.35.30009. View

11.

Koch-Goppert G, Graser S, Krischke N . [Barriers and Resources in Utilisation of HIV-Prevention Services for African Migrants]. Gesundheitswesen. 2013; 77 Suppl 1:S33-4. DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1329997. View

12.

Uccella I, Petrelli A, Vescio M, De Carolis S, Fazioli C, Pezzotti P . HIV rapid testing in the framework of an STI prevention project on a cohort of vulnerable Italians and immigrants. AIDS Care. 2017; 29(8):996-1002. DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1281876. View

13.

Hernando V, Alvarez-Del Arco D, Alejos B, Monge S, Amato-Gauci A, Noori T . HIV Infection in Migrant Populations in the European Union and European Economic Area in 2007-2012: An Epidemic on the Move. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015; 70(2):204-11. DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000717. View

14.

Goosen S, Hoebe C, Waldhober Q, Kunst A . High HIV Prevalence among Asylum Seekers Who Gave Birth in the Netherlands: A Nationwide Study Based on Antenatal HIV Tests. PLoS One. 2015; 10(8):e0134724. PMC: 4546638. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134724. View

15.

Akinsulure-Smith A . Exploring HIV knowledge, risk and protective factors among west African forced migrants in New York City. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013; 16(3):481-91. PMC: 3773304. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9829-1. View

16.

Deblonde J, de Koker P, Hamers F, Fontaine J, Luchters S, Temmerman M . Barriers to HIV testing in Europe: a systematic review. Eur J Public Health. 2010; 20(4):422-32. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckp231. View

17.

Santos-Hovener C, Marcus U, Koschollek C, Oudini H, Wiebe M, Ouedraogo O . Determinants of HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention needs among African migrants in Germany; a cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and practices. BMC Public Health. 2015; 15:753. PMC: 4545823. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2098-2. View

18.

Brannstrom J, Sonnerborg A, Svedhem V, Neogi U, Marrone G . A high rate of HIV-1 acquisition post immigration among migrants in Sweden determined by a CD4 T-cell decline trajectory model. HIV Med. 2017; 18(9):677-684. DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12509. View