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