Home care for persons with AIDS: Community attitude in a neighbourhood of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A survey was carried out to assess community attitude towards provision of home care for persons with AIDS in an urban community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June and July 1993. Of the 530 people interviewed, 455 (86%) had heard about AIDS and the majority of these had a correct perception of the disease, Practising a single sexual partner relationship and using condom were regarded as ways of preventing AIDS by 80% and 53% of the respondents, respectively. Knowledge about AIDS was found to be very high. Misconceptions about the disease were observed in some participants, 55% of the respondents expressed willingness to give home-care for persons with AIDS. On the other hand, the majority (90%) regarded hospitals as the best place to give care for persons with AIDS. Most obstacles for not providing home-care for persons with AIDS were related to fear and misconceptions associated with the disease. Strengthening public education to create a more favourable attitude in a community towards the provision of home-care for persons with AIDS is recommended.