A Study to Compare and Correlate the Knowledge and Attitude Regarding HIV/AIDS among Young Married and Unmarried Women in Selected Urban Slums of Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Globally, AIDS has become a major public health issue and is posing a serious challenge to the developed as well as the developing world. Young people aged (15-24) account for half of all new HIV infections and of infected youths, two thirds are females. Young women includes two subgroups namely the married and unmarried. To prevent the HIV risk, knowledge and attitude towards safe sex is essential.

Objective: To determine and compare the knowledge on HIV and attitude towards sexuality between the married and unmarried young women.

Methods: Using survey approach 650 young women in the age group of 15-24 years were interviewed to assess their knowledge and attitude to HIV/AIDS and sexuality.

Results: more than half (60.31%) of the subjects had inadequate knowledge regarding HIV/ STI. .Nearly half of the sample had misconceptions regarding routes of transmission such as mosquito bites and sharing food. Majority in both the groups did not know about mother to child transmission of HIV. With regard to STI most of the sample possessed an inadequate knowledge. Using condom as a preventive measure was said by only 15% of subjects. Nearly one fourth of sample in both groups (30%) did not know about places of HIV testing, and 60% of them were not aware of places of condom availability. With regard to overall attitude towards sexuality and gender norms, majority of women in both the groups had a favorable attitude. More in the unmarried had adequate knowledge but an unfavourable attitude than that of the married women. There was a significant positive relationship between Knowledge and attitude among the unmarried young women.

Conclusion: Strategies aimed at reducing vulnerabilities through providing gender appropriate life skill education that would increase their knowledge and motivation to practice safe sex is essential.