Open AccessKnowledge of STIs and blood‐borne viruses among Vietnamese men in metropolitan Sydney
Author(s) -
O'Connor Catherine C.,
Wen Li Ming,
Rissel Chris,
Shaw Miranda,
Quine Susan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00119.x
Subject(s) - vietnamese , medicine , chlamydia , reproductive health , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , family medicine , gonorrhea , metropolitan area , demography , health education , environmental health , gerontology , public health , population , nursing , immunology , philosophy , linguistics , pathology , sociology
Objective:To describe the sexual health knowledge of a group of Vietnamese men living in inner urban Sydney in order to assist with future program planning.Method:Data were collected through telephone interviews conducted in Vietnamese using a structured questionnaire. Data were obtained from 499 of 761 eligible men contacted, giving a response rate of 66%. The data were weighted to be consistent with the age distribution of Vietnamese males in the area. A comparison was done with a published national telephone study of sexual behaviour and knowledge.Results:Low knowledge levels about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood‐borne viruses were found, compared with data from a published national telephone study. The factors associated with higher mean knowledge scores on multiple regression were: having 10 or more lifetime female sexual partners, being hepatitis B vaccinated, knowing someone with HIV, having received information about HIV in Vietnam in the past 12 months, having received information about HIV or STIs in the past 12 months from a GP. Knowledge about chlamydia was particularly poor.Conclusion:Targeted, community‐wide, awareness‐raising campaigns and health care worker education is required to improve the Vietnamese community's knowledge of STIs, with particular emphasis on improving chlamydia knowledge.