Knowledge of visitors to Feira S. João about HIV-AIDS

Introduction: Knowledge about HIV infection is studied in different settings. Most of them formal contexts, like students of compulsory schooling, higher education, among health professionals in different cultures or considering affective-sexual relationships. However, popular party contexts provide experiences and contacts and knowledge must flow, in order to prevent sexual risks diseases. As much as possible to found in data bases, there are not studies developed in Portuguese fairs. Objectives: To assess the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among people who frequent the annual fair at a Portuguese town in the South. Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study was developed, applying a convenience sample of 135 people who visit the fair-event. A self-administered instrument was applied. We collected information about the socio-demographic variables and knowledge about HIV, applying the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV-KQ-18). The Kuder-Richardson test exhibited a coefficient of .774. Data were analyzed with the SPSS version 22.0, considering descriptive and non-parametric tests. The study integrates a broad project in the university. Results: 60% of the participants were female and 40% male, having between 16-62 years old (M=26.5; DP=10.38). Except for two items, where percentage of subjects where under 50%, a high percentage of subjects (61.5% - 83%) have correct knowledge about HIV transmission. The score of HIV-KQ-18, applying Kruskall-Walis test, showed significative differences (X2=20.521; gl=3; p=.000). Knowledge level is in sequence: 1) adults employed or 2) not, 3) students above 18 years old, having 4) students under 18 years a bad knowledge. Conclusions: It is important to study the level of knowledge of ordinary people, in a non-formal context, once is the knowledge which emerges and can be identified as a part of literacy in health