Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding HIV and TB Among Homeless People in Tehran, Iran

Background: Homeless people are at high risk of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) infection due to living in poor sanitary conditions and practicing high-risk behavior. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of homeless people in Tehran regarding TB and HIV. Methods: Using a convenience sampling, we performed a cross-sectional study on homeless people in Tehran from June to August 2012. Participants aged 18-60 years having at least 10 days of homelessness in the preceding month to the study period were included. All required data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted using a researcher-designed questionnaire. Each score in KAP of TB and HIV was separately divided by the maximum score and multiplied by 100 to attain percentage scores. The mean scores were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student's t test. A Tukey test was used for post hoc analysis and two-by-two comparisons. Results: In this study, 593 participants consisting of 513 men and 80 women were included. The mean age of the participants was 41.74 +/- 0.45 years. Moreover, the total mean score of KAP toward HIV was 79.24 (95% CI: 77.36, 81.12), 57.13 (95% CI: 55.12, 59.14), and 21.14 (95% CI: 18.35, 23.93), respectively. The total mean score of knowledge and practice regarding TB was 62.04 (95% CI: 59.94, 64.14) and 42.57 (95% CI: 40.36, 44.78), respectively. Conclusion: Although a relatively acceptable knowledge was detected in this high-risk population, practices regarding TB and HIV showed some weaknesses. Developing special programs to improve the healthy behavior of this population is highly recommended.