1Research Scholar, Post Doctorate Fellowship from UGC, Deptt. of Home Science Extension Education, Institute of Home Science, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra
2Director, Institute of Home Science, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra
3Head, Deptt. of Home Science Extension Education, Institute of Home Science, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra
Online published on 22 April, 2015.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of the most important and urgent public health challenges facing government and society around the world. The situation regarding HIV/AIDS in the world is dramatic. The number of HIV infected patients is quite large and there is no continent on world map where, there are not a large number of HIV victims.
Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection and to the impact of HIV/AIDS. Around half of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the world are females. According to NACO (2005), India is the second largest population infected with HIV/AIDS. Over 35 percentage of all reported AIDS cases are among 15 to 24 years. Girls are not so much aware about this concept being contracted with the disease and it's after effects, which creates the problem. This makes adolescence a crucial period in her life time.
Therefore it was essential to know the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS among adolescent girls. So to find out the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS the researcher conducted the present study among 200 adolescent girls of Agra district.
It is concluded from the study that the respondent's awareness regarding basic facts about HIV/AIDS, causes of HIV infection, prevention against HIV infection and government programme and policy against HIV/AIDS was high. While regarding to the sexually transmitted infections, symptoms of HIV/AIDS, progression stages of HIV/AIDS and medical tests and treatment for HIV/AIDS, the awareness level in most cases was low. Overall level of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS of most of the respondents was at medium level.
Adolescent girls, HIV/AIDS, Awareness
