Knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS in a sample of Iraqi population

HIV continues to be a significant public health problem, with increasing incidence recently in the Middle East region. The cornerstones of fighting HIV are people's Knowledge and attitude. Consequently, this study is designed to evaluate the Knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS in a sample of the Iraqi population. The study comprised 621 well-educated participants from Baghdad University, who answered a questionnaire form regarding HIV/AIDS knowledge and altitude. The percentages of males and females were 33.82% and 66.18%, respectively. The percentages of participants according to level of education were 7.09%, 80.84%, 5.48%, and 6.60% for secondary education, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and a doctorate, respectively. Additionally, 96.14% having a scientific background and 3.86 having a humanitarian background. A 65.54% of participants answered that HIV enters via sexual relations; however, the Knowledge of the others is still primitive. At the same time, 48.31% considered HIV to be a fatal disease. While only 35.45 % of the respondents have a positive attitude for HIV patients to work, and 32.69% to marry. On the other hand, the succession of antiretroviral therapy to changing HIV from a fatal to a chronic disease with poor Knowledge has an impact on people living with HIV (PLHIV) because of stigma and discrimination. In conclusion, this study showed the negative attitudes toward PLHIV and also engaged in risky practices that might predispose them to HIV transmission. The authors recommend adopting an educational program for youths about HIV transmission and positive attitudes toward PLHIV.