A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra
Background: Knowledge and a positive attitude are necessary for the successful reduction in the prevalence of and stigma surrounding human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The rural youth is a vulnerable group because of a lack of knowledge and maturity, misconce...
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doaj-320b9c06db8249e8b5b2554d67bb651a2021-07-07T14:19:20ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMGM Journal of Medical Sciences2347-79462347-79622020-01-017312613210.4103/mgmj.mgmj_24_20A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of MaharashtraQuincy VazPrasad WaingankarBackground: Knowledge and a positive attitude are necessary for the successful reduction in the prevalence of and stigma surrounding human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The rural youth is a vulnerable group because of a lack of knowledge and maturity, misconceptions, cultural beliefs, and taboos about HIV/AIDS. Objective: The study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar district of Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: The proportionate allocation approach was used with the stratified random sampling technique to select a 10% sample from 5000 rural students from two colleges in Vasai. A total of 512 students from various academic streams consented to participate. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire comprising 50 questions (in English only) was administered. It included details about their sociodemographic status, economic background, knowledge, and attitude about HIV/AIDS with a scoring system. Data were analyzed using Excel and Epi Info. Results: Of the total of 512 students, 89.78% of males and 85.37% of females were aware of HIV/AIDS. The science students obtained a mean score of 8.49, whereas the nonscience students obtained a mean score of 6.93. Only 57 students could write a few correct symptoms of HIV/AIDS. About 65.82% of students feel that testing is important, but only 33.01% were willing to get tested. When asked about shaking hands with or touching people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs), 79.69% said that merely touching does not transmit HIV/AIDS, but only about half of the students (51.95%) would actually shake hands with or hug a PLHA. Interpretation and Conclusion: Unlike many other studies, where knowledge was poor and therefore attitude also reflected poorly, rural youth in Vasai has fair knowledge, but their attitude toward HIV/AIDS/PLHA is unfavorable. Although Vasai is rapidly developing, and literacy levels are increasing, the misconceptions and social stigma persist. Therefore, having adequate knowledge is not sufficient; the attitude has to change as well.http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2020;volume=7;issue=3;spage=126;epage=132;aulast=Vazacquired immunodeficiency syndromeattitudehuman immunodeficiency syndromeknowledgerural youth |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Quincy Vaz Prasad Waingankar |
spellingShingle |
Quincy Vaz Prasad Waingankar A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra MGM Journal of Medical Sciences acquired immunodeficiency syndrome attitude human immunodeficiency syndrome knowledge rural youth |
author_facet |
Quincy Vaz Prasad Waingankar |
author_sort |
Quincy Vaz |
title |
A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra |
title_short |
A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra |
title_full |
A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra |
title_fullStr |
A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra |
title_full_unstemmed |
A study of knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar District of Maharashtra |
title_sort |
study of knowledge and attitude about hiv/aids among college-going rural youths in vasai in palghar district of maharashtra |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
MGM Journal of Medical Sciences |
issn |
2347-7946 2347-7962 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
Background: Knowledge and a positive attitude are necessary for the successful reduction in the prevalence of and stigma surrounding human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The rural youth is a vulnerable group because of a lack of knowledge and maturity, misconceptions, cultural beliefs, and taboos about HIV/AIDS. Objective: The study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among college-going rural youths in Vasai in Palghar district of Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: The proportionate allocation approach was used with the stratified random sampling technique to select a 10% sample from 5000 rural students from two colleges in Vasai. A total of 512 students from various academic streams consented to participate. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire comprising 50 questions (in English only) was administered. It included details about their sociodemographic status, economic background, knowledge, and attitude about HIV/AIDS with a scoring system. Data were analyzed using Excel and Epi Info. Results: Of the total of 512 students, 89.78% of males and 85.37% of females were aware of HIV/AIDS. The science students obtained a mean score of 8.49, whereas the nonscience students obtained a mean score of 6.93. Only 57 students could write a few correct symptoms of HIV/AIDS. About 65.82% of students feel that testing is important, but only 33.01% were willing to get tested. When asked about shaking hands with or touching people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs), 79.69% said that merely touching does not transmit HIV/AIDS, but only about half of the students (51.95%) would actually shake hands with or hug a PLHA. Interpretation and Conclusion: Unlike many other studies, where knowledge was poor and therefore attitude also reflected poorly, rural youth in Vasai has fair knowledge, but their attitude toward HIV/AIDS/PLHA is unfavorable. Although Vasai is rapidly developing, and literacy levels are increasing, the misconceptions and social stigma persist. Therefore, having adequate knowledge is not sufficient; the attitude has to change as well. |
topic |
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome attitude human immunodeficiency syndrome knowledge rural youth |
url |
http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2020;volume=7;issue=3;spage=126;epage=132;aulast=Vaz |
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