Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: September | Volume: 12 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 62-69
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220909
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards HIV Among College Students of Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Faysal Ahmed Imran1, Mst. Eshita Khatun2, Md. Shahjahan3
1Department of Nursing, Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College
2Department of CSE, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh
3Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh
Corresponding Author: Faysal Ahmed Imran
ABSTRACT
Objective: HIV/AIDS is one of the fast-growing epidemics and global public health problems experienced throughout the entire world. Inadequate knowledge and misconceptions regarding the mode of transmission is responsible for the spread of HIV infection. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge and raise awareness about HIV through health education among college students.
Methods: A total number of 300 college students voluntarily participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The data were collected through an online questionnaire, tabulated and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 25.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). The quantitative data of the study were expressed in terms of numbers and percentages. The questionnaire included Socio-demographic information, knowledge related to HIV exposure, causative agents, high risk groups, mood of transmission and preventive measure. Chi-Square tests were used to associate the variables.
Results: The study reveals that the majority of the respondents had significant knowledge about HIV exposure, causative agent, mode of transmission and preventive measures. 71.3% of respondents recommended using condoms, 52% respondents of urban areas insisted to avoid multiple sexual partners and 78.6% respondents preferred to screen blood before transfusion. The study has significant association between age and knowledge about mood of transmission (p<0.007) as well as residence and attitude towards HIV patients(p<0.0001). Therefore, few students showed negative attitudes towards HIV patients.
Conclusion: From this study results, it is recommended that awareness programs are needed for college students regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. It would be helpful to reduce the deficit of knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS.
Key words: HIV, AIDS, Sexual behavior, Sexually Transmitted disease, College students.