Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Background: Young people are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Bangladesh. Lack of knowledge about reproductive health issues is also common in this group. Aims: This study aimed to assess the kno...
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doaj-0bcbb9973882408a8ceab4917158f8cf2020-11-24T21:20:03ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research2349-42202350-02982015-01-012191510.4103/2349-4220.159118Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, BangladeshSabrina Zaman MouFaiz Ahmed BhuiyaSheikh Mohammed Shariful IslamBackground: Young people are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Bangladesh. Lack of knowledge about reproductive health issues is also common in this group. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health of young female university students (19-27 years) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 402 female students from seven universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic information, knowledge, and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health. Descriptive analysis was used, and data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: The majority of the participants were young, unmarried, undergraduate students. Most of the participants reported that they knew about STDs (79%) and HIV/AIDS (66%). However, knowledge about the modes of transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor. HIV/AIDS was considered by 90% participants as a public health threat to Bangladesh, mostly due to illiteracy (76%), increased mortality (20%), existence of risky sexual behavior (18%), and aggression of Western culture (31%). About 65% of the participants mentioned that AIDS can be prevented by safe sexual practice, 55% mentioned prevention through upholding religious values and moral education, and 59% mentioned that education about AIDS would help prevent transmission. Conclusions: Although a majority of young Bangladeshi female students reported knowing about HIV/AIDS, their knowledge regarding transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor. Strategies for creating reproductive health education targeted at young female students are essential for the prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS.http://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2015;volume=2;issue=1;spage=9;epage=15;aulast=MouAcquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)Bangladeshhuman immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)knowledgeperceptionreproductive healthsexually transmitted diseases (STDs) |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sabrina Zaman Mou Faiz Ahmed Bhuiya Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam |
spellingShingle |
Sabrina Zaman Mou Faiz Ahmed Bhuiya Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Bangladesh human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge perception reproductive health sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) |
author_facet |
Sabrina Zaman Mou Faiz Ahmed Bhuiya Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam |
author_sort |
Sabrina Zaman Mou |
title |
Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
title_short |
Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
title_full |
Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
title_fullStr |
Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
title_full_unstemmed |
Knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health among female students in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
title_sort |
knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted diseases, hiv/aids, and reproductive health among female students in dhaka, bangladesh |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research |
issn |
2349-4220 2350-0298 |
publishDate |
2015-01-01 |
description |
Background: Young people are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Bangladesh. Lack of knowledge about reproductive health issues is also common in this group. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health of young female university students (19-27 years) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 402 female students from seven universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic information, knowledge, and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health. Descriptive analysis was used, and data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: The majority of the participants were young, unmarried, undergraduate students. Most of the participants reported that they knew about STDs (79%) and HIV/AIDS (66%). However, knowledge about the modes of transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor. HIV/AIDS was considered by 90% participants as a public health threat to Bangladesh, mostly due to illiteracy (76%), increased mortality (20%), existence of risky sexual behavior (18%), and aggression of Western culture (31%). About 65% of the participants mentioned that AIDS can be prevented by safe sexual practice, 55% mentioned prevention through upholding religious values and moral education, and 59% mentioned that education about AIDS would help prevent transmission. Conclusions: Although a majority of young Bangladeshi female students reported knowing about HIV/AIDS, their knowledge regarding transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor. Strategies for creating reproductive health education targeted at young female students are essential for the prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS. |
topic |
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Bangladesh human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge perception reproductive health sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) |
url |
http://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2015;volume=2;issue=1;spage=9;epage=15;aulast=Mou |
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