The present study was conducted to evaluate the extent of AIDS awareness among undergraduate students. The ex-post facto research design was used for study. Out of 70 districts of U.P., the Varanasi district was selected purposively as Banaras Hindu University is situated here which was selected as locale of study. Undergraduate students from three discipline of BHU i.e. faculty of Arts, faculty of Science and Institute of Agricultural Sciences were selected on the basis of stratified random sampling method. The variables selected were age, sex, occupation of parents, annual income of parents, family size, educational qualification of parents, material possession of parents, sources of information used by respondents and extent of awareness. The data revealed that all respondent had knowledge about AIDS or HIV positive. Very less percentage of respondent have had the intercourse with opposite sex. Use of condom was found as preventive measure among majority of respondents of all the disciplines. Minimum percentage of respondents was found to be meeting with any HIV positive person. However they were friendly with HIV positive persons which were experienced among the respondents from the faculty of Science. The knowledge about HIV transmission and social conflict passing from one person to another like blood, semen, reusing and sharing needles, unprotected sex were known to majority of respondents from all the disciplines. In case of Arts faculty, very little respondents were aware that the breast milk and tears can also cause AIDS. Awareness about treatment recommended for AIDS and faith in regular medicine were found among all the respondents of three disciplines. Very little percentage of respondents knew about precautions to be taken by AIDS affected person.
HIV, Health, Awareness, Students
