Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practices on HIV/Aids among Men Having Sex with Men

The study investigated the extent of knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and practices regarding HIV/AIDS among men having sex with men. It focused on the following: (1) the profile of the respondents in terms of age, marital status, educational level, and employment status, (2) the extent of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS among men having sex with men, (3) the common sexual practices used by men having sex with men in regards to HIV/AIDS; and (4) the significant difference of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and sexual practices of men having sex with men regarding HIV/AIDS when grouped according profile. In answering these problems, the researchers used the descriptive research design. The analysis yielded the following results: (1) Most of the respondents belong to adolescent years, mostly single, obtained higher education, and unemployed. (2) The respondents had sufficient knowledge on the mode of transmission but had insufficient knowledge about the disease process. The respondents show a positive attitude to those people living with HIV/AIDS by not discriminating them. The respondents show a positive beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS by believing that multiple sex partner is one of the risk factors for developing HIV/AIDS and kissing is not a factor for transmission of the virus. However, they have a misconception that if they have a strong faith in God, they will not be infected by the virus. (3) The respondents had good sexual practices with regards to HIV/AIDS as they used condoms to protect themselves against the virus and never engage with multiple sex partners. (4) There is no significant difference on the respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs when grouped according to age, marital status, educational level, and, employment status. There is a significant difference in the respondents' practices when grouped according to age but significantly do not differ when grouped according to marital status, educational level, and employment status. In conclusion, the respondents are knowledgeable to the mode of transmission but have insufficient knowledge to the disease process.

Keywords: Men having Sex with Men, HIV/AIDS, Extent of Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices