Knowledge and Attitudes towards HIV and HCV among the Population Attending the Fast-Track Cities Mobile Unit in Brescia, Italy

Francesca Viola, Beatrice Formenti, Stefania Arsuffi, Itala Polesini, Emanuele Focà, Francesco Castelli and Eugenia Quiros-Roldan ()
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Francesca Viola: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Beatrice Formenti: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Stefania Arsuffi: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Itala Polesini: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Emanuele Focà: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Francesco Castelli: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Eugenia Quiros-Roldan: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: The Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of the University of Brescia organized free rapid screening tests for HIV and HCV as part of the Fast-Track City commitment. A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire that was administered to individuals who underwent the screening or consultation. The study aimed to compare knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and HCV between age groups (18–40 vs. >40) and sexual orientations (heterosexual vs. LGBTQ+). Overall, 333 questionnaires were completed. Overall, only 107 (32%) of respondents knew how HIV is transmitted. Major differences were shown between different age groups, where people under the age of 40 had a significantly higher correct response rate than people over 40 (n = 101; 39% versus n = 6; 7.8%, p < 0.00001). Similarly, almost half of LGBTQI+ people (n = 28; 44.4%) gave the correct answer, versus 30% (n = 79) of heterosexuals ( p = 0.0359). Only 9.6% of the population demonstrated high levels of knowledge for both HIV and HCV. Our study highlights that misconceptions about HIV and HCV should be addressed in prevention and education programs, whose target should also be specific populations.

Keywords: HIV; HCV; health literacy; HIV knowledge; HCV knowledge; viral infections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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