Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) and its Compliance Among People Living with HIV/Aids

A study was conducted on 60 people living with HIV/AIDS in support community care centre Belgaum. To evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART) and its compliance among people living with HIV/AIDS and to associate the knowledge of people living with HIV/AIDS with selected socio-demographic variables. HIV is now considered not only as a health problem, but also a developmental and security threat. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection, when a person's immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers. One of the treatment available for combating with HIV is Antiretroviral therapy (ART). Antiretroviral therapy means treating viral infections like HIV with certain drugs. However, they slow down the growth of the virus but do not kill the virus. The subjects were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data collection was done through structured knowledge questionnaire. The study was conducted by utilizing one group pre-test and post-test research design with an evaluative approach. Data obtained was tabulated and analyzed in terms of objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics. A study revealed that in pre-test knowledge scores of people living with HIV/AIDS, 39(65%) had average knowledge and 13 (22%) had good knowledge, and 8(13%) had poor knowledge, whereas in post test 26(44%) had good knowledge and 23(38%) had average knowledge and 11(18%) had poor knowledge scores. The mean post-test knowledge score (36.95) was higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score (18.78). The mean and median in both pre-test (mean18.78, median19) and post-test (mean36.95, median 37) were found. The post-test knowledge score of people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and its compliance was significantly higher at P>0.05 level of significance. There was significant association between age, gender, religion, marital status, educational status, occupation, and parity of people living with HIV/AIDS and pre-test knowledge scores.