Knowledge and beliefs about HIV/AIDS. Impact of knowledge on having risky sexual behaviors among men who use methadone and among men who use drugs intravenously

BackgroundHIV infection is a general problem of people who are addicted to psychoactive substances taken as intravenous injections and among patients of methadone programs. Surveys concerning knowledge and beliefs about HIV/AIDS are important because they are the base for preventive HIV/AIDS programs. Drug users do not obey the rules of safer sexual intercourse, because they do not have enough knowledge in that field.Materials and methodsThis study comprised 101 men (51 who use drugs intravenously and 50 who use methadone). In this study an authorial questionnaire was used.ResultsIt was discovered that the people who use methadone have higher knowledge about HIV/AIDS than the people who use drugs intravenously. Moreover it was discovered that the people in both groups have similar beliefs about risky sexual behaviors. There was not any significant relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and having sexual behaviors.ConclusionsThe study discovered that it is very important to broaden the knowledge about HIV/AIDS among drug addicted people. However a high level of knowledge is insufficient to change risky sexual behaviors for much safer ones; psychotherapy is necessary to dissipate emotional problems of people who are addicted to drugs.