Knowledge and Behaviour on Stis, Hiv/Aids and Drug Abuse among Secondary Level Students (A Case Study of Bishnumati Vdc, Budhanilkantha Kathmandu)

Abstract

This thesis is related to knowledge and behavior about STIs, HIV/AIDS and Drug abuse in Budhanilkantha. The objectives of this study were identifying the knowledge and behavior of secondary level students. This study was conducted with the sample size of secondary level students of Budhanilkantha VDC, Kathmandu; collected in 2 different schools chosen purposively .Budhanilkantha School is a national level school of Nepal where students from all over the country with different ethnic and status study. Similarly, Valley Public Higher Secondary School is also located at the maximum migrated area. Thus, the information obtained from these schools could be more representative to the national context. Here, face to face interview and observation was taken with students. Such collected data were analyzed by using mathematical categorization and interpreted according to cultural differences and discontinuity theory. One of the major sources of information about STIs, HIV/AIDS and drug is teacher (school curriculum) among the respondents. Less than 30 percent students have received information about STIs and HIV/AIDS from parents and friends because they have also lack of knowledge about it and they are not living with their parents or students are in hostel. About 98 percent students have heard about drug and boy's students still have more knowledge because of more freedom than girls. The age of the respondents ranged from 14 to 17 years, the highest present of respondents (36.08%) were aged 16 years and the lowest percentage of respondents (10.76%) were in the age of 14 . The family size of maximum respondents is found 4 and this is 33.54%. This shows that, maximum Nepalese people are practicing nuclear family. Hindu was the major caste with 98.00 percent respondents and only 2.00 percent was Buddhists. Nearly 89 percent respondents had knowledge about STIs and Gonorrhea was the most commonly heard STIs with 50.71 percent and Syphilis was also a common among them. Other STIs were the least heard by the respondents. Highest percent of respondents (42.86%) got information about STIs from Television, followed by radio (19.29%) and less information by their parents. All most all respondents (98.10%) had heard about HIV/AIDS. Those respondents who have heard about STIs, HIV and AIDS, also know at least About 92 percent respondents reported that state should conduct public awareness programs to increase information about STIs, HIV and AIDS and Drugs for adolescents. And countable number of students/respondents wants to improve their curriculum of secondary level. The level of knowledge of respondents about STIs and HIV/AIDS show that higher the age higher the proportion of respondents having knowledge that condom can prevent the transmission of STIs and HIV/AIDS. They emphasized that in the present pandemic situation of AIDS, people should use condom to prevent the STIs and HIV/AIDS and to control the birth. Adolescents are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of their instable behavior. They should be provided consistent information about reproductive health emphasizing on STIs and HIV/AIDS. Education plays the vital role to determine every change in society. This study recommends that education on reproductive health must be included in the school curriculum.