Table 1: knowledge of the nature, prevention and transmission of HIV (n=1,465)
HIV knowledge items	Yes N (%)	Non N(%)
Knowledge of HIV
Ever heard of HIV?	1,342 (91.6)	123 (8.4)
Can you tell a HIV- infected person from his/her appearance?	485 (33.1)	980 (66.9)
Does HIV cause life-long infection?	759 (51.8)	706 (48.2)
Is HIV more easily transmitted than Hepatitis B virus?	620 (42.3)	845 (57.7)
Knowledge of HIV transmission
Can HIV be transmitted through
Blood transfusion?	1,289 (88.0)	176(12.0)
Sexual intercourse?	1,321 (90.2)	141 (9.8)
Breastfeeding?	1,180 (80.5)	285 (19.5)
From infected mother to unborn child?	1,164 (79.5)	301 (20.5)
Sharing razor blade, nail cutter, clipper?	1,283 (87.6)	182 (12.4)
Sharing toothbrush with infected persons?	1,138 (77.7)	327 (22.3)
Scarification marks and tattoos?	1,062 (72.5)	403 (27.5)
Male or female traditional circumcision?	1,078 (73.6)	387 (26.4)
*Sharing food with HIV infected person?	1,043 (71.2)	422 (28.8)
* Eating food cooked by HIV infected person?	1,137 (77.6)	328 (22.4)
* Hugging?	1,144 (78.1)	321 (21.9)
Kissing?	724 (49.4)	741 (50.6)
* Hand shaking?	1,154 (78.8)	311 (21.2)
*Mosquito bites?	982 (67.0)	483 (33.0)
*Witchcraft?	916 (62.5)	549 (37.5)
Knowledge of HIV prevention and control
Can HIV be prevented;
* Through vaccination?	497 (33.9)	968 (66.1)
Screening of pregnant women?	1,188(81.1)	277 (18.9)
If HIV positive pregnant women receive treatment?	1,090 (74.4)	375 (25.6)
*If infants born to HIV positive mothers receive vaccination and immunoglobulin at birth?	945 (64.5)	520 (35.5)
If HIV positive mothers do not breastfeed their babies?	874 (59.7)	591 (40.3)
If family members of HIV patients are screened for HIV?	194 (13.2)	1,271 (86.8)
Is there a medical treatment for HIV?	992 (67.7)	473 (32.3)
*Is there a possibility of a cure of HIV?	638 (43.5)	827 (56.5)
*A score of 1 was given to “NO” responses while a score of 0 was given to “YES” responses