Knowledge and Attitudes on Stis and Hiv/Aids among Secondary School Students (A Case Study of Shree Siddha Secondary School, Gothikanda (Mehealpani), Surkhet)

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS are the major challenges for world health to emerge in 21st century. The aids epidemic may be the most devastating health disaster in human history. HIV/AIDS has become major as well as critical public health issue particularly in Africa facing the worst effect of the epidemic. At least 45 million people are now living with HIV in the world. An estimated 5.1 million people were newly infected with HIV by the end of 2008. Among them 95 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, eastern Europe and Asia. The study on “knowledge and attitudes on STIs and HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Shree Siddha secondary school’s students in Gadhi VDC Gothikanda (Methealpani), Surkhet” has been carried out by using primary data collected from one secondary school of Gadhi VDC. The main objectives of the study are to evaluate the knowledge and perception about the modes of transmission and method of prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS. The sample size is 110 students of the selected school and they are selected by census sampling method. Out of the total 110 students (class 9 and 10), 64 are boys and 46 are girls. They are from both class nine and ten. The average age of respondents is 15 years and their average family size is 5 to 7 member. About 9 percent respondent’s father’s have educational level of S.L.C and above, whereas the major occupation of the respondent’s parent’s (87.7% father and 95.4% mother) are engaged in agricultural occupation. The majority of the respondents (48.2%) are Brahmin, Magar and Chhetri constitute second and third rand respectively. All of the students (100%) are unmarried. Almost respondents (95.7%) have heard about STIs. All of the respondents reported that sexual contact with infected person is the most important mode of transmission of STIs and all of the respondents reported that use of condom during sexual intercourse is the most important way of prevention from STIs. All of the respondents reported that they have heard about HIV/AIDS because of the electronic media and their curriculum also includes about HIV/ AIDS. All of the respondents know the ways of transmission of HIV/AIDS is sexual contacts. All of the respondents reported that the use of condom is the most important and effective method of prevention of HIV/AIDS. Most of the respondents (95.5%) reported that the commercial sex workers are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in the society. Majority of the respondents have accepted AIDS infected persons all of them die which is accounted for (70%).