Abstract

“HIV/AIDS AWARENESS, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AN MULTI INSTITUTION CAMPUS”

Dr. B. Sai Vikas*, Dr. Joga Sasidhar, Battu Rakesh, Tupakula Karthik Babu, Vinnakota Saikrishna

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. It directly and indirectly destroys CD4+ T cells. Objectives: To find out the level of awareness, attitude and perception of HIV/AIDS among students of a multi institutional campus. Study Design: HIV/AIDS awareness, attitude and perception among college student, a survey based prospective study was conducted at Bharathi Educational Trust campus, Bharathinagara. Information was collected from the participants in their leisure time using a pre-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on studies reported in Indian Journals. Totally the questionnaire had 50 questions with 8 sections, and each section focused on different aspects of disease such socio-demographic information, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, symptoms of HIV/AIDS, source of knowledge, knowledge of modes of transmission, methods of preventions, attitude towards PLWHA (People living with HIV/AIDS) and knowledge of NACO (National AIDS Control Organization). All the subjects were explained about the study and the questions were asked to them in detail to ensure complete comprehension. Result: Totally 300 subjects participated in the study. Among the 300 students, 77 were Pre-University students, 83 were engineering students, 132 were Degree students and 8 were Diploma students. Among 300 students, 86.25% of students have Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, 84.75% of students have Knowledge about NACO, 85% of students have Knowledge of Source of information, 85.25% of students have Knowledge of Mode of transmission, 85.25% of students have Knowledge of Methods of prevention, 81% of students have Knowledge of Symptoms, 78.5% of students have Knowledge of Attitudes towards treatment and care. Conclusion: Maximum numbers of participants were under graduate who were having less awareness regarding HIV/AIDS when compared to post graduate students. Most of the students were having general knowledge about AIDS but they lack awareness towards symptoms and modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS. This study concludes that education has an impact on awareness and effective program design for each group could improve the understanding and behavior of the study population regarding HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Retrovirus, CD4+ T cells, Macrophages, Dendritic cells, Prospective Study, National AIDS Control Organization.