Awareness,Knowledge and Misconceptions about Some Reproductive Health Issues among the Married Couples in High-risk States of India

Abstract

In India, the HIV/AIDS epidemic represents one of the most serious public health problems. According to National AIDS Control Organization, about half of the new infections occur among persons below 25. More than 80 per cent of the total infections are transmitted through sexual intercourse. Importantly, the infection is growing faster among the married. What makes youth more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS? Most evidence suggests that knowledge about HIV/AIDS is low among youth. Knowledge about the modes of transmission is considered to be the only means of prevention against this disease. The objective of this article is to study awareness, knowledge and misconception regarding RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among the married couples in high-risk states of India. Data for this paper have been obtained from the Rapid Household Survey under Reproductive and Child Health Survey, Round II, during 2002–04. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu were purposively selected for the analysis; except Gujarat all these states were in the category of high risk. A total of 82,596 married couples were considered for the study. A bi-variate technique was used for the analysis. In addition, a knowledge index was computed as a summary measure of knowledge and misconception. It was categorized into Low, Medium and High Knowledge. The analysis revealed that in Tamil Nadu around 33 per cent husbands and 27 per cent wives had high knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS. In contrast, in Gujarat 8 per cent husbands and 6 per cent wives had high knowledge. Further, the analysis illustrated the gap of knowledge between husbands and wives.

Keywords

HIV knowledge married couples high-risk states India knowledge index

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