Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of health education on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted disease-related knowledge, attitude and practice among migrant construction workers. Methods Cluster random sampling was adopted to select 1 031 male migrant construction workers from 3 construction sites in a district of Shanghai, health education on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted diseases were conducted, and the effects of health education were evaluated. Results The awareness rate of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted disease-related knowledge after health education was significantly higher than that before health education among migrant construction workers (P<0.001). The awareness rate of transmission routes (sex transmission, blood transmission and vertical transmission) and non-transmission routes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was significantly increased after health education, especially on “antibody can not be detected during window period”, “relationship between sexually transmitted diseases and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” and “sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented by avoiding premarital sex”. The attitude toward premarital sex and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was significantly changed after health education. Among all the migrant construction workers, 49.4% chose not to avoid people infected with human immunodeficiency virus, and 64.5% believed that patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome should live and work like a normal person. Behavior survey indicated that 54.9% of migrant construction workers were for the use of condoms after health education. All the above attitude and behavior were significantly different from those before health education (P<0.01). Conclusion Health education is an effective measure to improve acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted disease-related knowledge, attitude and practice among migrant construction workers.

Key words: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted disease, health education