Appraisal of HIV-AIDS consciousness among college youths in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to appraise the HIV-AIDS consciousness among college students who are the most vulnerable groups of our society. For accomplishing the objective, the present study was carried out in Shimla district on five government/affiliated colleges of Himachal Pradesh University named as Government College, Sanjauli, Rajiv Gandhi College, Kotshera, Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Lakkar Bazar. Shimla, St. Bedes College (Missionary College) and Sanskrit College, Phagli. A sample of 932 students was selected who were tested with self-designed measure approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Delhi on multifarious aspects while the present study emphasized on aids consciousness amongst the college youths. The data demonstrated that an overwhelming number of respondents (95.1 percent) had heard about the HIV/AIDS. The percentage within each of the sex categories reveal 97.1 % of boys and 93.4% girls had heard about the HIV/AIDS. Further, it was bring into being that 91.5 (91.9% boys + 91.1% girls) respondents know the correct meaning of AIDS. The analyses revealed that 80.5 % (34.9 % and 45.6 % girls) students know the exact meaning of HIV. As per sources of information are concerned 30.0% received by the respondents from Television, 20.4 percent from Radia, 2.0 percent Cinema, 18.7 percent Newspaper/Magazines, 6.7 percent Posters/Hoardings, 1.9 percent Exhibition/Mela, 8.8 percent Health Workers, 2.4 percent Adult Education Programme, 3.4 percent Teachers, 2.0 percent friends, 0.6 percent Relative and 3.0 percent Information from the Doctor. The percentage within the sex shows that the boys acquire 29.3 % information through Television,27.2% from Radio and 18.0% from newspapers/magazines. The result further revealed 30.4 % information acquired through Television, 19.2 % from newspapers and magazines and 14.9 % through the Radio. The rejoinder with regard to transmission of HIV/AIDS to other person shows that 94.5 % (94.2 % boys and 94.8 % girls) know it well that HWAIDS cannot be put in the air through the sharing of clothes. Further it was found that 89.1 (84.1 % boys and 93.0 % girls) respondents know that HIV/AIDS infection is not feasible by sharing the intaking paraphernalia. Nearly 82.5 % students (82.5 % boys and 82.6 % girls) know that HIV/AIDS can not be broadcasted by mosquito biting. It was found that 92.2% students (90.4% boys + 93.6% girls) do not find sharing of food as the major sources of HIV/AIDS transmission. Further 79.8% (81.5% boys + 78.5% girls) students argued that hugging someone with AIDS does not pass on AIDS virus. But 89.7 (87.5% boys + 91.5% girls) respondents are very clear in their minds that the diffusion of virus are promising from tainted mother to the child during pregnancy.

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