Modelling Predictive Factors of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards HIV/AIDS Transmission and Their Interlinked Role: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Lahore, Pakistan

HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health challenge that disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (KAPs) and their interlinked role in preventing HIV/AIDS was of utmost importance for effective prevention and control efforts. Objective: To explore the current state of KAP related to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, emphasizing the interlinkage of these factors with each other. Methods: The present study was a facility-based cross-sectional study carried out with a sample size of 114 HIV patients who were enquired about their KAP using a predesigned questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS (version 24.0), chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Results: Approximately half of the respondents had good knowledge (43.9%) and attitudes (48.1%), while slightly more of them reported good practices (56.1%) regarding HIV/AIDS. The predictive model of KAP regarding HIV/AIDS showed that males (OR=4.25; 95%CI=1.42-12.73), females (OR=3.69; 95%CI=1.05-12.95), literate individuals (OR=2.90; 95%CI=1.35-6.25), and employed individuals (OR=2.35; 95%CI=1.08-5.13) were more likely to have sufficient levels of knowledge, with patients with good knowledge 2.54- and 3.30-fold more likely to have better attitudes (95%CI=1.19-5.44) and better practices (95%CI=1.50-7.28), respectively, and patients with better attitudes 12.59-fold more likely to have better practices (OR=12.59; 95%CI=5.06-31.29) regarding HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: Conclusively, the trends of KAP related to HIV/AIDS were taking a positive turn in Pakistan; however, there was still a large gap that has yet to be filled. There was a need to destigmatize the disease by disseminating the right information with concerted efforts.