Awareness of HIV/AIDS and STD amongst rural adolescents in Hathras District of Uttar Pradesh
Kishore, J.; Sharma, S.; Ranjan, R.; Ingle, G.K.
Health and Population Perspectives and Issues 29(4): 187-197
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-6803 Document Number: 681099
This study was conducted to find out the awareness of adolescents about human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 villages of Sadabad Community Health Center, Hathras District of Uttar Pradesh, India. 172 male and 103 female adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years, permanently residing in these villages, were included as sample respondents. The findings showed that 62.2% of male and 48.5% of female adolescents have heard of HIV/AIDS; 30.8% males and 21.3% females have not heard of STDs. The difference between males and females was not statistically significant. However, awareness level about STDs was very low as compared to HIV/AIDS among both males and females. Risk behaviours were significantly high among male adolescents as compared to females. The risk behaviours among the adolescents started when they were 16 or 17 years old. The higher the level of education of the adolescents, the higher was their level of awareness about HIV/AIDS. Maximum number of adolescents received the information from television (49.1%) followed by posters (23.0%) and radio (14.3%).