Knowledge and Attitudes on Stds, Hiv and Aids Amonghigher Secondary School Students (A Case Study of Selected Higher Secondary Schools in Kanchanpur District)

Abstract

This is a field-based study to reflect the picture of knowledge and attitudes on STDs, HIV andAIDS among higher secondary school students in selected school of Kanchanpur district.This study is mainly based on primary data collected from two higher secondary schools ofKanchanpur district in 2009, which includes 115 students adopting purposive samplingmethod. The higher proportion of the respondents is in 17-18 years of age, which is accounted for49.6 percent. Most of respondents (33.9%) are Brahmin. The higher proportions of therespondents (76%) are unmarried. Most of respondents (57.5%) live in join family. Most ofthe respondent's father (74.8%) is literate and most of the respondent's mother (70.4%) isilliterate. Most of the respondent's father (59.1%) involves in agriculture and 73.9 percentrespondents' mother involves in agriculture. The average family size of the respondents is 5-7members. Most of the respondents (85.2%) are from rural area. All the respondents haveradio facilities at their home. Most of the respondents have heard about STDs (95.6%). HIV/ AIDS is most common typesof STDs among students (100%). Majority of the respondents(99%) said that reproductivepart affected by STDs. Most of the respondents (90.9%) know the mode of transmission ofSTDs. Large proportion of the respondents (64%) said that sexual contact with infectedperson. Large proportions of the respondents (82.7%) have knowledge on preventive methodof STDs but 17.3 percent have not knowledge. Use of condom during sexual intercourse ismost preferred way (87.9%) to prevention from STDs. Large proportions of the respondents (95.6%) have heard about the HIV/ AIDS. Allrespondents have heard from radio. Most of the respondents (77.3%) have knowledge onmode of transmission HIV and AIDS. Most of the respondents (75.3%) said the HIV andAIDS is transmitted from blood transfusion. A large proportion of respondents (81.8%) haveknowledge on syndrome of HIV and AIDS. About 90 percent respondents reported that themain syndrome of AIDS is loss of body weight. About three fourth of the respondents (74.5%)know preventive method of HIV and AIDS. Majority of the respondents (89.7%) reported touse condom during the sexual intercourse. It is concluded that the knowledge and attitudes on STDs, HIV and AIDS of highersecondary are almost universal. Respondents from grade 12 are more knowledgeable thanrespondents from grade 11 ontransmission of STDs,HIV and AIDS, syndrome of STDs, HIVand AIDS and preventive method of STDs and HIV and AIDS. It is recommended that perceptions perceived by the respondents can be the entry point forthe planner and policy maker reacting to these matters.