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  • Title: Awareness of AIDS among school children in Haryana.
    Author: Aggarwal AK, Kumar R.
    Journal: Indian J Public Health; 1996; 40(2):38-45. PubMed ID: 9090903.
    Abstract:
    The study is aimed to assess the existing level of knowledge of school children of 9th and 10th classes about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Three high schools in an urban area and three in the villages of a district of North India were included in the study. A pretested closed-ended questionnaire was administered to 336 students available. Overall level of knowledge about AIDS was found to be high. However, there were significant differences in knowledge among rural-urban and male-female students. There were some misconceptions in knowledge regarding transmission, prognosis and prevention. Books and media were the most common sources of information. Most of the students wanted to learn more about AIDS. Since overall knowledge levels were high we conclude that AIDS education should concentrate on clarifying areas of misconceptions. To assess current levels of knowledge about AIDS among secondary school students in India, a questionnaire was administered to 336 ninth and tenth graders (mean age, 15 years) in three rural and three urban schools in Haryana State's Ambala District in 1993. A brief paragraph on HIV/AIDS is included in textbooks for ninth and tenth graders in Haryana. 85% of students had heard of AIDS; of these, 56% cited sex with an infected partner as a means of HIV transmission and 38% identified use of unsterilized drug-injecting equipment. Sexual monogamy (49%), condom use (44%), and use of sterilized needles (40%) were the main strategies identified for prevention of HIV transmission. Of concern was widespread misinformation about HIV transmission and control. For example, 23% of students believed HIV can be transmitted by drinking from a glass used by an infected person and 22% thought mosquito bites spread the virus. 57% believed persons with AIDS can be detected by their physical appearance and 38% considered AIDS to be a treatable disease. The most popular sources of knowledge were textbooks (51%), television (50%), and newspapers (34%). Urban students were significantly more informed about AIDS than their rural counterparts. Since textbooks are an important source of information in this population, it is recommended that the current paragraph on AIDS be expanded to a separate chapter on AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, state medical officers are urged to deliver talks on AIDS during routine school health examinations.
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