DOI Number: 10.5958/j.0976-5506.5.2.

079
80 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2014, Vol. 5, No. 2

A Study to assess Knowledge and Awareness about the

HIV/AIDS among Students of Government Senior
Secondary School of Central India

Salil Sakalle1, Dhruvendra Pandey2, Sanjay Dixit3, Harish Shukla4, Satish Saroshe5
1
Associate Professor, 2Resident, 3Professor & Head, 4Demonstrator, 5Assistant Professor, Department of Community
Medicine, MGM Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT
Background: The lives of millions of adolescents worldwide are at risk because they do not have the
information; skills, health services and support which they need to go through sexual development
during adolescence.
Aims& Objective: To assess knowledge of school students towards HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention
& Control.
Material& Method: An educational interventional study was conducted in Gujarati Samaj A.N.M.E.N.
School. Study population included all 10th standard students. Sample size was 200 students. Inclusion
Criteria included all 10th standard students present at the time of pre intervention interview. Mc
Nemar test was applied for statistical significance of knowledge improvement by intervention.
Result: Most of the students (95%) were correctly known that HIV is a viral disease. Sexual route of
transmission of HIV was known by 89% of the students. 67% of the students were aware about
preventive measures against HIV/AIDS. Television (44%) was main source of knowledge for them.
Conclusion: The study revealed that although a significant proportion of students were aware of
HIV/ AIDS, their knowledge on prevention modalities was low. Students also harbored
misconceptions on the modes of HIV transmission. Television, newspapers and internet were quoted
as the most common source of information.

Keywords: HIV, AIDS, School students, Knowledge, Awareness, Prevention

INTRODUCTION lack of sex education, including education on STDs

prevention.4 most parents do not discuss topics related
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is to sexual issues and hence many teens turn to peers
a disease of the immune system caused by the human and to the media and get inaccurate information.5
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV/AIDS has had a Knowledge of adolescent girls about various STDs and
great impact on society, both as an illness and as a HIV/ AIDS was limited, which improved significantly
source of discrimination. The disease also has with the educational intervention.6
significant economic impacts.1 AIDS can be called the
Modern Pandemic, affecting both industrialized and HIV prevalence among the young population (15-
modern countries. 2 24years) at national level has also declined from 0.30%
in 2000 and has stabilized over the last four to five
School children of today are exposed to the risk of years at around 0.11%. Stable to declining trends in
being victims of HIV/AIDS. Studies have reported that HIV prevalence among the young population (15-24
young people form a significant segment of those years) are also noted in most of the States.7 It was often
attending sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics found that schools can act at the center point for
and those infected by HIV.3 Many sexual contacts disseminating information and education on HIV/
among adolescents are unprotected, they are at risk of AIDS. Hence school education has been described as
contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). a ‘social vaccine’, and it can serve as a powerful
Another reason for their vulnerability to STDs is the preventive tool.8

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 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2014, Vol. 5, No. 2 81

The present study was conducted primarily to and awareness about various aspects of HIV/AIDS
assess the level of knowledge, attitude and beliefs like etiology, mode of transmission, diagnosis,
regarding HIV/AIDS among Government school prevention, treatment and sources of information.
students as well as increasing their awareness Interventions were take place by means of series of 3
regarding the same through health education and also lectures using audio visual aids and discussions.
to find the change in the level of awareness about HIV/ Intervention was taken place for boys and girls
AIDS and its prevention and control as a result of separately. Ethical permission was obtained both from
intervention. Institution and Principal of school. The data was
analyzed using appropriate statistical software (MS
MATERIALS & METHOD excel and SPSS version 20). Mc Nemar test was applied
An educational interventional study was for statistical significance of knowledge improvement
conducted in urban area of Indore district. Study site by educational intervention.
included Gujarati Samaj A.N.M.E.N. School. Study site
was selected using simple random sampling method. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Study population included all 10th standard students.
Verbal informed consent was obtained prior to In the present study, the students belonged to the
interview. Sample size was 200 students (both boys age group of 14-16 years. The mean age was 14.92 ±
and girls). Study Duration was 3 months duration. 1.3 years. Out of 200 students, 46.5% were females and
Inclusion Criteria included all 10th standard students 53.5% were males. (Table 1) All the students had heard
present at the time of pre intervention interview and of HIV/AIDS although only 78.5% were able to tell
who gave informed consent. A semi structured the full form of HIV. This is comparable to the other
questionnaire was used for interview both pre studies. 9,10,11,12 However, a study on Nigerian school
interventional and post interventional. The students revealed that only 5% were able to expand
questionnaire was designed to know their knowledge HIV and AIDS.13 (Table 2)

Table 1: Showing Age wise and sex wise distribution of Students

Age(in years) Male Female Total

Number (%) Number (%) Number (%)
14 14(35.8) 25(64.2) 39(19.5)
15 61(51.7) 57(48.3) 118(59)
16 32(74) 11(26) 43(21.5)
Total 107(53.5) 93(46.5) 200(100)

Table 2: Showing Knowledge and Awareness of Students about HIV/AIDS (N=200)

Pre interventional Post interventional p value

General Knowledge about HIV/AIDS Yes No Do not Know Yes No Do not Know
World AIDS Day 125(62.5) 58(29) 17(8.5) 191(95.5) 7(3.5) 2(1) 0.01*
Organization for AIDS control 108(54) 68(34) 24(12) 177(88.5) 19 (9.5) 4(2) 0.012*
First Case detected in year 62(31) 107(53.5) 31(15.5) 192 (96) 7 (3.5) 1(0.5) <0.01*
First case detected in City 65(32.5) 111(52.5) 24(12) 196(98) 4(2) 0 <0.01*
Symbol for HIV/AIDS 187(93.5) 3 (1.5) 10 (5) 198 (99) 1 (0.5) 1(0.5) 0.054
Aim of HIV/AIDS Control Program 77(38.5) 96(48) 27(13.5) 144 (72) 52 (26) 4 (2) 0.01*

*p value less than 0.05 is statistically significantly

In case of Knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS which increased to 99.5% after interventional. Similar
of etiology and mode of transmission, 93% students findings were observed in a study at Mumbai (50%).15
correctly knew etiology of disease after intervention Low levels of knowledge about general aspects and
which is comparable to other studies. 12, 14 56.5% transmission of HIV/AIDS was found in secondary
students correctly identified blood, sexual fluids and school students in Kolkata.16 Studies conducted in
breast milk as a route of transmission which increased other countries have reported higher levels of
to 90.5% post interventional. 89% of the students could knowledge regarding transmission routes. 13,17
identify sexual intercourse as a route of transmission (Table 3)

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 82 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2014, Vol. 5, No. 2

Table 3: Showing Knowledge and Awareness of Students about HIV/AIDS (N=200)

Pre interventional Post interventional p value

Knowledge about Etiology and Yes No Do not Know Yes No Do not Know
Mode of transmission
Is it cause by a virus 190(95) 9(4.5) 1(0.5) 198(99) 2(1) 0 0.042*
Full form of HIV/AIDS 157(78.5) 38(9) 5(4.5) 189(94.5) 11(5.5) 0 <0.01*
Most commonly affected age group 150(75) 32(16) 18(9) 180(90) 16(8) 4(2) <0.01*
Is Immune system mainly affected 183(91.5) 14(7) 3(1.5) 194(97) 6(3) 0 0.018*
HIV is infection and AIDS is Disease 133(66.5) 59(29.5) 8(4) 173(86.5) 25(12.5) 2 (1) <0.01*
Country With Maximum No. of PLHIV 65(32.5) 112(56) 23(11.5) 198(99) 2(1) 0 <0.01*
Time to develop AIDS from HIV 67(33.5) 118(59) 15(7.5) 143(71.5) 49(24.5) 8(4) <0.01*
Direct contact of various body fluids 113(56.5) 81(40.5) 6(3) 181(90.5) 18(9) 1(0.5) <0.01*
lead to HIV transmission
Unprotected sexual relation as i 178(89) 20(10) 2(1) 199(99.5) 0 1(0.5) <0.01*
mportant route of transmission

*p value less than 0.05 is statistically significantly

72.5% correctly identified sharing of razor blades as source of transmission which increased to 96.5% post
interventional. 12.5% students had belief that AIDS can be transmitted by casual contact or handshake, 14%
through eating from same stuff and 16% through sharing utensils. 13.2% students had belief that mosquito/
insect bite can be able to transmit the HIV. These findings are comparable to the findings of other studies. 12, 14,
18
(Table 4)

Table 4: Showing Knowledge and Awareness of Students about HIV/AIDS (N=200)

Pre interventional Post interventional p value

Belief about Communicability Yes No Do not Know Yes No Do not Know
Casual hand shake 25(12.5) 122(61) 53(26.5) 2(1) 198(99) 0 <0.01*
Eating from same stuff 28(14) 113(56.5) 59(29.5) 1(0.5) 199(99.5) 0 <0.01*
Mosquito/insect bite 32(16) 130(65) 38(19) 6(3) 194(97) 0 <0.01*
Sharing utensils 32(16) 144(72) 24(12) 4(2) 196(98) 0 <0.01*
Using Public Toilets 8(4) 144(72) 48(24) 2(1) 198(99) 0 <0.01*
Sharing Razor blades 145(72.5) 43(21.5) 12(6) 193(96.5) 7(3.5) 0 <0.01*

*p value less than 0.05 is statistically significantly

In this study Knowledge and awareness of students Students of Haryana.9 In studies conducted in various
were less in term of diagnosis, prevention and parts of world showed significant improvement in
treatment which increases as effort of intervention. 43% awareness of preventive measures.20, 21
of student stated that this disease cannot be cured only
prevent which increase to 83.5% after intervention. In Majority (80.5%) of students had a favorable
contrast to this study, 32% students of Meerut20, 4.5% attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS
students of rural Punjab 12 and 96% students of (PLHIV), which improved to 94.5% after intervention.
Nainital19 stated that it is an incurable disease. However, this favorable attitude towards HIV positive
patients was not observed among college students in
Awareness of testing method (34%) and name of study of Ganguli SK et al22 and Maimaiti N et al21.
testing centre as integrated counseling and testing Another study of Sharma P et al20 99% had positive
centre (ICTC) (56.5%) was changed to 53% and 93.5% attitude towards infected patients after intervention.
respectively. 67% of students were aware about HIV/ Only 31% students had knowledge about the
AIDS as being preventable and could identify the availability of drugs for HIV/AIDS. This was lower
preventable measures. This improved to 83.5% than students of Gujarat18 (68.3%) and in Mumbai15
afterwards. Moreover, awareness about the different (34%) but higher than students of Udupi district in
methods of prevention was rather low. In contrast to Karnataka 23 (24.3%) and in Punjab 12 (15.9%).
our study, higher levels of awareness was found in (Table 5)

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 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2014, Vol. 5, No. 2 83

Table 5: Showing Knowledge and Awareness of Students about HIV/AIDS (N=200)

Pre interventional Post interventional p value

Knowledge about diagnosis, Yes No Do not Know Yes No Do not Know
prevention and treatment
Is testing the only way to know 65(32.5) 122(61) 13(6.5) 130(65) 65(32.5) 5(2.5) <0.01*
if you have infection
Reason why people do not get tested 28(14) 159(79.5) 13(6.5) 45(22.5) 152(76) 3(1.5) 0.021*
Person with HIV/AIDS cannot be 86(43) 93(46.5) 21(10.5) 167(83.5) 29(14.5) 4(2) <0.01*
cured however life can be prolonged
Method of HIV/AIDS testing 68(34) 113(56.5) 19(9.5) 112(56) 79(39.5) 9(4.5) <0.01*
Name of testing centre (ICTC) 113(56.5) 68(34) 19(9.5) 187(93.5) 12(6) 1(0.5) <0.01*
Preventive measure for HIV/AIDS 134(67) 53(26.5) 13(6.5) 167(83.5) 30(15) 3(1.5) <0.01*
Opportunistic infections occurs in 61(30.5) 102(51) 37(18.5) 125(62.5) 63(31.5) 12(6) <0.01*
HIV/AIDS
Attitude towards patient infected 161(80.5) 32(16) 7(3.5) 189(94.5) 8(4) 3(1.5) <0.01*
with HIV/AIDS
As a citizen your job to help HIV 102(51) 80(40) 18(9) 132(66) 59(29.5) 9(4.5) 0.034*
infected Persons
Name of treatment centre (ART Centre) 62(31) 102(51) 36(18) 196(98) 4(2) 0 <0.01*

*p value less than 0.05 is statistically significantly

44% of the students mentioned that television and be incorporated which unfortunately was not included
radio were the main sources of information to them due to time constraint.
and internet contributed about 23% to their
The findings in the present study reiterate the need
knowledge. This was lower to observations made
for re-enforcing school AIDS education. While the
amongst senior secondary students of Delhi11 (79.6%),
teacher plays a pivotal role in imparting education,
Punjab12 (77.5%) and Chandigarh24 (62.7%). In this
the use of multi-pronged methods such as films, group
study 27.5% of children had heard about HIV/AIDS
discussions, dramas, puppet shows and role-plays
through their respective school sex education program.
must be incorporated. There is a strong need that
This finding suggests that school AIDS education
school education must directly address stigmatizing
should be strengthened further in schools. Published
attitudes about HIV/AIDS, gaps in HIV/AIDS
literature indicates that peer education has a significant
knowledge and awareness of HIV-related health
impact in reducing risk behavior.6, 9 (Figure 1)
resources. HIV prevention program should not only
give information, but also build skills and provide
access to essential commodities such as condoms or
sterile injecting equipment. As children are a valuable
resource for the future of a country, it is imperative
that they be equipped with ample amount of
information so as to protect themselves and their
counterparts, which made possible only through
compulsory inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in
school curriculum and train teachers to specifically
teach issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that although a significant

This study was carried out with 200 students who proportion of students were aware of HIV/ AIDS, their
was not representative of all the students of various knowledge on diagnosis prevention and treatment
schools in Indore District, needs more sample size to modalities was low. Students also harbored

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 84 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2014, Vol. 5, No. 2

misconceptions on the modes of HIV transmission. Deepti. Awareness of STDs and HIV/AIDS
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10. Bhalla S, Chandwani H, Singh D,
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Somasundaram C, Rasania SK, Singh S.
Conflict of Interest: No Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among senior
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Source of Funding: Self
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