Jacob M, Parameshwari S, Vishwanath R, Samuel NM; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. E11459.

TN Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai, India

BACKGROUND: Young people are both an important target group and potential resource for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. As it is the younger generation that seems to be most infected, it is important to launch many awareness and training programs in schools and colleges. Therefore this study was conducted to assess the effect of HIV/AIDS education. METHODS: A HIV/AIDS colloquium was held for 500 students attending paramedical colleges in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. These students were from colleges of Nursing and Physiotherapy. The topics covered during the program were epidemiology of HIV, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies. Questionnaire was used for assessing the students knowledge on HIV and also to gather information on their needs to improve that knowledge. RESULTS: Of the 500 questionnaires distributed, 48% of the students completed the forms. 87% of these were females and the rest males. 98.75% of the students found the training program useful. 87% of the students wrote the expansion of HIV/AIDS while 13% made mistake. 43% wrote the routes of transmission correctly while 55% did not know of vertical transmission. 66% of the students said that they were taught of HIV/AIDS in the present curriculum. 73 % of the students were willing to take care of AIDS patients while 25% did not respond. 79% wished to learn more on HIV/AIDS. 38% suggested a book on HIV/AIDS to be distributed. 13% wished to have lectures integrated into their study course, while the rest of the students preferred to have both. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study shows that there is a need for effective HIV/AIDS education campaign among the student community. This will help them to develop the skills for serving the infected.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Disease Transmission, Vertical
• Ethnic Groups
• Evaluation Studies
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Education
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• India
• Knowledge
• Male
• Rural Population
• Schools
• Students
• education
• transmission

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0018844

UI: 102256342

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