Thesis submitted to department of health education and behavioral Sciences college of medical science and public health, jimma University in partial fulfillment for the degree of master of public Health (mph) in health education and promotion

Abstract

Background: Currently each day approximately 7,100 new infections and 4,900 deaths by HIV/AIDS occur worldwide. Migrant mining workers are taken to be HIV vulnerable group in different part of the world. In Ethiopia they were not thought as at risk group yet. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess HIV preventive behaviours and associated factors among gold miners in Sali traditional gold mining site Bench Maji zone south west Ethiopia from Jan 15, 2012 to Feb 15, 2012 Method: A cross sectional study triangulated with qualitative study was conducted. The health belief model was used as conceptual framework to assess the behavior. The Standardized Questionnaires which was adopted and developed from other behavioral research was used for data collection. OpenCode version 3.6 was used for analysis of qualitative data. The quantitative data was entered using EPI data version 3.1and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate analysis, multiple logistic regression was done. Reliability of the instrument was also checked using Cronbach’s alpha. Result: A total of 393 respondents with response rate of 93.12% were participated. Most of the respondents 362(92.1%) were sexually active currently. Less than half of the respondents 187(47.6%) were engaged in HIV preventive behavior. Regarding the perception 215(54.7%) of them have low perceived susceptibility to HIV /AIDS, 247(62.8%) of them has high perceived severity, 223(56.7%) of them have high perceived benefit and 208(52.9%) of them have high perceived barrier. HIV preventive behavior significantly associated with being in middle, higher and highest income, Completing secondary and tertiary school and self efficacy. Conclusion and Recommendation: The HIV preventive behavior of the mining worker was low. Income, educational status and self efficacy were factors affecting the HIV preventive behavior of mining workers. Working condition and existence of only masculine identity may have an effect on their preventive behavior. Thus this population group should be understood as most at risk population group at national level and Intervention like community based outreach on HIV should be implemented and also developing and implementing VCT campaign as special case for this population group should be designed.