Awareness about common diseases in selected female college students of Karachi
Khan, S.Jalal.; Anjum, Q.; Khan, N.Ullah.; Nabi, F.Ghulam.
Jpma. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 55(5): 195-198
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9982 PMID: 15960284 Document Number: 255280
A cross-sectional survey was carried out to determine the level of awareness about 5 common diseases, namely: tuberculosis (TB), typhoid, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS among college female students of Karachi, Pakistan. Participants were female students aged 16-21 years from 3 colleges selected by convenient sampling method during January to May 2004. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. A large number of students (71%) knew that typhoid spreads by eating contaminated food and drinking infected water. Majority (84%) knew about cough as a mode of spread for TB whereas 69% thought that TB could spread through the sneeze of a TB patient. Regarding AIDS, 90% knew that it is sexually transmitted. Majority (87%) knew about the association of hepatitis B and contaminated needles; 64% were aware of hepatitis C and abuse of contaminated needles; 88% knew about the spread of HIV by the use of contaminated needles. A large number (92%) mentioned television as their main source information. The general level of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS transmission was satisfactory among college girls in this study. The level of awareness of the young educated females about the modes of spread of typhoid. TB, hepatitis B and C is low. This study emphasizes the effectiveness of health education campaign regarding common infectious diseases, especially in young girls.