A Study to assess Knowledge and Awareness about the HIV/AIDS among Students of Government Senior Secondary School of Central India

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.

To assess knowledge of school students towards HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention & Control.

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.

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.

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.