PART 2

CHAPTER IV

AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL BELIEFS ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING, ABORTION,  SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, INCLUDING ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME

2.4.1. Awareness

The great majority of the survey respondents (92%) were aware that a woman is able to conceive after just one unprotected intercourse. However, about 36% had no idea or an incorrect one as to when it is more likely for a woman to become pregnant (Figure 2.4.1.).

Most of the survey respondents were aware of Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (98%) and Syphilis (97%). However, only 39% of respondents were aware of Gonorrhea and 13% ever heard about infection with Chlamydia, which are common causes of both female and male infertility (Figure 2.4.2.).

2.4.2. Knowledge

In order to make conclusions about the level of women’s knowledge about contraceptive methods and abortion we created a score of knowledge that was based on the number of correct answers on related questions. Similarly, we analysed the level of knowledge of survey respondents about  STDs and HIV. It was found that more than 43% of women had poor knowledge on family planning and 64% had poor knowledge on STDs/HIV (Figure 2.4.3.).

We evaluated the general knowledge about family planning, STDs and HIV based on the scale from 1 up to 3. The mean score was equal to 1.5±0.56. We found that a number of factors, such as age, education, place of living, and level of urbanization determined women’s knowledge about the issues related to the sexual and reproductive health. The Figures 2.4.4. demonstrates that the mean score of general knowledge about family planning and STDs/HIV increased with the age of women, but still remained on the average level of 1.5. In adolescents, below 20 years of age it was lower than in older women (1.1 versus 1.5, p<0.00). Knowledge was better in respondents with university education as compared with women having lower educational level (p<0.00). It was better also in urban women as compared to rural (p<0.00). The place of residence was another important determinant of knowledge on FP/SRH.

2.4.3.  Personal Beliefs

We investigated the personal beliefs of survey respondent about the benefits and risks of specific contraceptive methods, and the consequences of induced abortion. About 53% of women had an opinion that taking pills for too long can cause female facial hair growth, 32% believed that it may result in infertility and 22% suspected that taking the pills increased the risk of a woman getting cancer (Table 2.4.1.).

Almost 41% of women believed that withdrawal is a reliable method of family planning. Although the majority of women (61%) believed that IUD insertion is easier as compared to abortion, still about 14% of women considered that an abortion is easier. The majority of women (71%) were aware of possible infertility as a consequence of induced abortion, while 16% of women believed that it is not true and 13% had no idea about this (Figure 2.4.5.).

Table 2.4.2. summarizes personal beliefs of the respondents about the possible routes of HIV transmission. Most women were aware that it is possible to be infected by HIV through vaginal (92%) and anal (93%) intercourse, using a needle already used by another infected person (89%) and receiving transmission of infected blood (92%).

However, there were some prevalent false ideas mentioned (Figure 2.4.6.) such as the high probability of HIV transmission through shaking hands (23%), using domestic objects of an infected person (51%), using public bathrooms (43%), or from a mosquito bite (39%). Among the startling observations of this study was the fact that most of the respondents had fears of a high probability of infection with HIV (81%) in the health facilities. This finding indicates an existing mistrust by Armenian people concerning the safety of health facilities in Armenia.

The summary of personal beliefs of women about the routes of Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia transmission is given in the Figures 2.4.7., 2.4.8., 2.4.9, and Tables 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5). The great majority of women were aware about the sexual routes of transmission of Syphilis (97%), Gonorrhoea (96%) and Chlamydial infection (96%).

A significant proportion of women also had false ideas about STDs transmission. Among the most prevalent false ideas mentioned were assumptions about the high probability of STDs transmission during treatment by a physician or dentist, through shaking hands, using domestic objects of an infected person, public bathrooms, or through a mosquito bite. The unlikely notions of women about the possible routes of STDs/HIV transmission were similar to the notions of male respondents, which indicates the general lack of SRH education and counseling.