HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND RISK BEHAVIOUR AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS OF CENTRAL ASSAM: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
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Abstract
Background: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) poses a severe challenge to healthcare and is a significant public health issue worldwide. Young people tend to engage in sexual activity at tender ages and knowledge is an essential precursor of sexual risk reduction4. As more than one third of the population in India is young adults and adolescents, reaching and educating them is a key for prevention programmes and a healthier future8 . . The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge about HIV/AIDS among college students and their risk behaviors
Background & Rationale for the study:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) poses a severe challenge to healthcare and is a significant public health issue worldwide. Young people tend to engage in sexual activity at tender ages and knowledge is an essential precursor of sexual risk reduction4. Sometimes STIs may be viewed as unavoidable or may even be viewed as an "initiation into adulthood". Historically knowledge about STIs has been very low even in communities where there is high prevalence of STIs4.
As more than one third of the population in India is young adults and adolescents, reaching and educating them is a key for prevention programmes and a healthier future8.
One of the studies on the subject showed that only 13.5% senior school students had clear knowledge regarding AIDS- its general aspects, transmission and prevention. Girls had higher and clear knowledge than boys4.Approximately86% of the subjects knew AIDS was transmitted sexually, but the percentages aware of other transmission pathways and effective preventive measures were much lower.
About 64% of all the survey subjects reported experiencing sexual intercourse (90% of the males, 50% of the females)9.Use of condoms was cited as a preventive measure by 41% of the students, but by significantly more male respondents than female respondents. 60% of the study participants were very much worried about AIDS. But, only 23% considered themselves at risk of contracting the disease 9. .
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of evidence on what predicts awareness of HIV among young adults in the North-Eastern states and particularly Assam. Almost all the research in India is based on beliefs, attitudes, and awareness of HIV. However, this current study has tried to cover the level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its transmission and prevention measures. Also, this current study has tried to identify the associated high risk sexual behavioural practices among the young students in middle Assam districts viz., Karbi-Anglong, Nagaon and Hojai districts.
References
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Dr. Hitesh Deka
Associate Professor, Department Of Community Medicine, Nagaon Medical College
Dr. Shaheen Rahman
Associate Professor, Department Of Community Medicine, Nagaon Medical College
Dr.Amal Chandra Baishya
Associate Professor, Department Of Psychiatry, Assam Medical College
Dr. Giridhar Pathak
Professor, Department Of Community Medicine, Diphu Medical College
Dr. Amit Das
MSW, Department Of Community Medicine, Diphu Medical College
Ranjanjyoti Deka
Assistant Director , Assam State Aids Control Society.
Rajib Sarma
Assistant Director, Assam State Aids Control Society.