A Study of Knowledge & Awareness Regarding HIV/AIDS among Nursing Students
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Background: HIV/AIDS can be called our modern pandemic, affecting both industrialized and developing countries. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are 33.3 million people living with HIV in which 30.8 millions are adult (15.5 millions are women) and around 2.5 millions are children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people newly infected with HIV and an estimated 1.5 million people died from AIDS. So HIV today is a threat to men, women and children of all continents. Due to frequent and prolonged contact with the patients, nursing students are being identified as a potential high risk group for the HIV/AIDS spread so keeping this thing in mind we have selected the nursing students for the study to assess their level of knowledge&awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.
Research Question: What is the level of knowledge and awareness among Nursing students regarding various aspects of HIV/AIDS?
Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and their awareness regarding HIV/AID
Study Design: Cross Sectional Study
Setting and Participants: All Nursing Students of SVS Nursing College, Mahabubnagar.
Methodology: After the ethical clearance, the Present study was carried out in the last week of November 2011,with the aim to assess the status of knowledge and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS among 2nd, 3rd & final year nursing students of SVS college of nursing, Mahabubnagar A.P. For collection of data a pre designed, pre tested questionnaire were given to all the participants to fill up during the class in the lecture gallery who were present on that day. The data was collected and analyzed in descriptive statistical method.
Results: Out of total 190 nursing students, 168 (88.42%) students participated in this study, in which 83% were female & 17% were male. Most of the students (96%) were in the age group of 18-24 years. The full form of HIV and AIDS were not known to 48% & 17% participants respectively. Around 83% participants said that sexual route is the most common route for HIV transmission. Around 3.58% participants were having the misconception that HIV transmission is possible through hugging, sharing toilet seats, towels, utensils, shaking hands with HIV infected patients. Most of students (95.23%) were aware regarding the various preventive measures for HIV/AIDS. Around 86.90% participants were aware that most commonly immune System is affected by HIV. Some 14.88% participants said that Vaccine is available for HIV/AIDS&15.47% said that it is curable. Around 31% participants were afraid of cross infection in giving nursing care to HIV/AIDS. Around 44.50% participants said that ART in PEP for HIV/AIDS is not useful.
Keywords
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- UNAIDS,WHO(2009),AIDS Epidemic update.Dec.2009.
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