A profile of HIV infection / AIDS related knowledge among female students of Kanpur district, India.
BACKGROUND
HIV/AIDS, a social disease took pandemic form within a short span of time affecting 40 million people through the globe. Adults of the developing countries are the main victim of the disease contributing to 95% of the total world's HIV infection and 90% death. In the absence of effective cure to this disease, it can be very easily prevented by IEC activities regarding behavioural changes.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the misconceptions associated with it among girl students of Kanpur district.


METHODS
This is a baseline cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted among female students of technical and non-technical institutions of Kanpur district UP in 2001.


RESULTS
Though the causative agent and correct mode of acquiring infection was not known to most of the students yet significant proportion had adequate knowledge about the vulnerable age group that is youth as stated by (72.90%) of the respondents. Knowledge regarding correct modes of transmission of infections (82.78%), high risk groups (82.88%) and common symptoms of disease (80.11%) was satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of the present study was satisfactory and consistent with previous research findings. In paradox to their knowledge, deeply rooted misconception related to transmission of infection also surfaced and was more prevalent in technical than non technical students. These misconceptions need to be corrected to prevent the spread of the infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge of the study group was quite satisfactory for most of the variables like vulnerable age, modes of transmission, sexual and behavioural practices and common symptoms of the disease. However, misconceptions were also very high and almost equally present in technical and non-technical students. Though, as already stated, the technical students had better knowledge than non-technical ones.
Singh
S K
SK
Department of Community Medicine, COMS, Bharatpur, Nepal. dr_sk_singh@rediffmail.com
Saxena
A
A
Krishna
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult