Abstract:
Background: In Ethiopia, where HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are very common, little is known about the prejudice and
misconceptions of rural communities towards People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) and TB.
Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study in Gilgel Gibe Field Research area (GGFRA) in southwest Ethiopia to
assess the prejudice and misconceptions of rural and urban communities towards PLHA and TB. The study population
consisted of 862 randomly selected adults in GGFRA. Data were collected by trained personnel using a pretested
structured questionnaire. To triangulate the findings, 8 focus group discussions among women and men were done.
Results: Of the 862 selected study participants, 750(87%) accepted to be interviewed. The mean age of the
respondents was 31.2 (SD ± 11.0). Of the total interviewed individuals, 58% of them were females. More than half of the
respondents did not know the possibility of transmission of HIV from a mother to a child or by breast feeding. For fear
of contagion of HIV, most people do not want to eat, drink, and share utensils or clothes with a person living with HIV/
AIDS. A higher proportion of females [OR = 1.5, (95% CI: 1.0, 2.2)], non-literate individuals [OR = 2.3, (95%CI: 1.4, 3.6)],
rural residents [OR = 3.8, (95%CI: 2.2, 6.6)], and individuals who had poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS [OR = 2.8, (95%CI: 1.8,
2.2)] were more likely to have high prejudice towards PLHA than respectively males, literates, urban residents and
individuals with good knowledge. Exposure to cold air was implicated as a major cause of TB. Literates had a much
better knowledge about the cause and methods of transmission and prevention of TB than non-literates. More than
half of the individuals (56%) had high prejudice towards a patient with TB. A larger proportion of females [OR = 1.3,
(95% CI: 1.0, 1.9)] and non-literate individuals [OR = 1.4, (95% CI: 1.1, 2.0)] had high prejudice towards patients with TB
than males and literate individuals.
Conclusion: TB/HIV control programs in collaboration with other partners should invest more in social mobilization
and education of the communities to rectify the widespread prejudice and misconceptions.
