Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour of Secondary School Students on STIs, HIV and AIDs (A Case Study of Selected Secondary School of Jhapadistrict)

Abstract

Sexuality, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS are still themajor challenge for world health in 21st century. It has seen adramatic viewthe spread of HIV/AIDS from the initial in the UnitedStates, Europe to SouthAsia. HIV/AIDS has become as well as critical public health issue particularly inAfrica facing HIV/AIDS as epidemic. HIV/AIDS is cause of death in Africa andother part of the world wide.Although efforts for its prevention and control havebeen made and method continuously by United Nations, Governments, WHO,NGOs and INGOs to minimize the spread of HIV. It is still beyond the capacity ofmedical enrichment and is categorized incurable disease. If proper action is nottaken immediately, it might be disastrous. Theselected four Secondary Schools were selected purposively, out of the totalsample population (N=200) the percentage of adolescents who have heard ofHIV/AIDS is higher than the percentages who have heard of STIs. This studyshows that higher the class, higher the knowledge of STIs, HIV/AIDS. The knowledge of STIs and HIV/AIDS is rich among female adolescents incomparison to the male adolescents. Due to the lackof sufficient knowledge, someof them had misconception about ways of transmission, symptoms and preventivemeasures of STls and HIV/AIDS.The percentage of adolescents who had notexperience of sexual intercourse is higher. Lack of significant knowledge of STIs and HIV/AIDS, some of them havenegative attitude and behaviour towards these diseases. We should inform andeducate them about STIs and HIV/AIDS.