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Virology Research Journal | Volume 2
allied
academies
May 18-19, 2018 | Montreal, Canada
2
nd
World Conference on
STDs, STIs & HIV/AIDS
T
he Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has
the world’s third fastest growing AIDS epidemic, but
data on HIV/AIDS from this region is considered scarce. In
this study, we report a cross-sectional survey of knowledge
of and attitudes to HIV and AIDS among 438 high school
students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This city is an international
gateway with the highest HIV incidence in the country. The
survey highlights both good awareness of HIV with regard
to transmission by sexual contact and injection, and also
deficiencies in knowledge about other routes of transmission.
The data indicate substantial stigma associated with HIV/
AIDS patients, consistent with other reports from the
MENA region. These outcomes highlight a need for greater
education on at least some aspects of HIV; they also provide
a benchmark for future research and a basis for discussions
of public policy towards HIV/AIDS awareness and education
in Saudi Arabia.
e:
dr.sakher10@gmail.comKnowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS among high school students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Ssakher Alotaibi
King Abdullah Medical City, Saudi Arabia