http://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0088 -Ranjit Kaur, Indrajit Walia, Sunita Sharma
Abstract : A descriptive study was conducted to assess the awareness of HIV/AIDS among 43 students at NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh. It was found that 100% of the students were aware about causative agents where as only 48% students were aware about the window period. Further more about 93% students knew about the transmission of HIV/AIDS through sexual activity, mother to child during pregnancy and blood products and blood transfusion, whereas 93% subject knew that HIV/ AIDS cannot be transmitted through touching. Only 6.97% students have misconception that HIV/ AIDS cannot be transmitted through sharing of needles and syringes when the relationship between the habitat and HIV/AIDS awareness score of the students is used it is found that urban students have higher HIV/AIDS awareness score than the rural subjects. From this study it is recommended that HIV/AIDS education in higher secondary level with the reorientation programme for the teachers should be encouraged.
Key words :
Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, Human Immuno Deficiency Virus, Nursing Students
Correspondence at :
Ranjit Kaur
B.Sc Nursing
National Institute of Nursing Education PGIMER, Chandigarh
Introduction
The HIV virus that causes acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has brought a pandemic that causes a unique challenge for public health nurses 1. Ever since the first case of AIDS was reported in India in 1986. The number of HIV positive cases has been on the increase2. AIDS is spreading in India at an alarming rate fuelled by an increasing causal attitude towards sex. Coupled with a tradition of public silence and reluctance to discuss these issues.
There is a fear that the number of human immuno deficiency virus cases may rise to such an extent that India overtakes South Africa as the world’s most severely affected country3. The joint united nation program on HIV/AIDS estimates that currently there are 39.9 million people living with HIV / AIDS worldwide, with 4.5 million new cases of HIV infection and 3.1 million deaths due to AIDS. Of approximately 40 million people affected with HIV/AIDS worldwide, WHO states that youth are at the epicentre of preventing the progression of HIV/AIDS pandemic. The WHO estimates that youth of 15-24 years comprises 50% of all new HIV infections and consequently must be targeted for education in decreasing transmission and reducing the stigmatization of HIV diagnosis4. Keeping this in mind an attempt was made to know the vigilancy and assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS among the modern generation
Objectives
- To assess the awareness of HIV/AIDS among newly admitted nursing
- To determine the relationship between selected demographic variables and awareness of HIV/AIDS among
Material and Methods Used
This descriptive study was conducted in National Institute of Nursing Education, (NINE) PGIMER, Chandigarh during the month of January 2008. NINE is running three types of programmes B.Sc. Nursing. (Post Basic), B.Sc. Nursing and M.Sc. Nursing. B.Sc Nursing (Post Basic) and MSc Nursing
Students are inservice candidates and the B.Sc. Nursing students who join nursing after 10+2 Medical. Among them 43 students of B.Sc Nursing 1st year were selected as sample for study. All the students were explained about the nature of the study. They were selected as study sample. Semi structured questionnaire was prepared to assess the awareness of HIV/AIDS among respondnce. Validity was established by seeking opinion of five experts from field of nursing. A test reliability was also calculated and found to be significant for research tool. Every student was personally contacted by investigator and verbally informed consent was obtained. The Data was gathered in the month of January 2008 after seeking the permission from the authority. The class coordinator was contacted to fix up the time for data collection there after the class teacher were informed accordingly. Data was analyzed and represented by using descriptive statistics.
Results
Socio-Demographic profile of the students
Figure-1 depicts that out of 43 students 65%(28) were from urban area and 35%(15) students from rural area.
Percentage of score as per students
Figure-2 depicts percentage of score as per students, Among 43 students (N=43) score range between 55% to 95%, median 75%. Mean 75% and standard deviation
12.90.
Given line graph it reveals percentage of score as per student that the maximum score that 75% and 80% that is each 10 students has to peak level of score in this line graph, moreover its depicted that only 2 subject has got 90% to 95% score respectively. Whereas the minimum score that
is 55% to 60% of scored by 1 to 3 subjects respectively so from the line graph it concluded that maximum number of student have fare knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Awareness about HIV/AIDS
Table-1 depicts that out of 43 nursing students 100% of them were aware of causative agents of HIV/AIDS retrovirus whereas only 48% were aware about the window period of HIV/AIDS.All the students
were aware about the fact that HIV/AIDS damages the immune system where as only 58% students accept that person may have AIDS but no symptoms and 79% students were aware that younger people are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
- Causative agents of HIV/AIDS is retrovirus 100%
- Strong and healthy people can get AIDS 100%
- HIV/AIDS damages the immune system 100%
- Younger people are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 79%
- People with AIDS die from serious disease 65%
- Connection between HIV/AIDS or other STD’s 62%
- Person have AIDS but no symptoms 58%
- Window period awareness 48%
Awareness of transmission of HIV/AIDS
Table-2 depicts awareness about transmission of HIV/AIDS. 100% of the students were aware of that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through blood products and blood transfusion, whereas 93% students know that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sexual activity and mother to child during pregnancy. On the other side about 93% students aware that HIV/ AIDS cannot be transmitted through touching, whereas only 7.69% students had misconception that HIV/AIDS can not be transmitted through sharing of needles and syringes.
Table – 4 : Awareness about transmission of HIV/AIDS
| Variables | f (%) |
| HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through | |
| • Blood products and blood transfusion | 100% |
| • Sexual activity | 93% |
| • Mother to child during pregnancy | 93% |
| HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted through | |
| • Touching | 93% |
Awareness about treatment, testing and prevention
Table-3 depicts awareness about treatment, testing and prevention. It is seen that 95% of students are aware about the fact that there is no vaccine for HIV/AIDS whereas only 69% students know that nurses can prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS through use of disposable needles and syringes and only 94% students accept that there is a way to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS. Half of (51%) students were aware about various test to detect the HIV/AIDS and the same number of students stated that follow up with post exposure testing is done at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. Where as 51 % students knew about the HIV/AIDS prophylaxis for health care provider should start with in 24 hours but only 35% students knew about the recommended course of therapy for post exposure prophylaxis i.e., 4weeks.
Table – 5 : Awareness about treatment, testing and prevention
| Variables | f (%) |
| • There is no vaccine. for HIV/AIDS | 95% |
| • There is a way to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS | 94% |
| • Nurses can be prevented of transmission of HIV/AIDS through use of disposable needles and syringes | 69% |
| • LlSA test, PCR test, western blot test is done to detect HIV/AIDS | 51% |
| • Fellow-up with post-exposure testing is done 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. | 51% |
| • Post-exposure of HIV/AIDS prophylaxis for health care provider should start within 24 hours | 51% |
| • Recommended course of therapy for post exposure ophylaxis is 4 weeks. | 35% |
Selected demographic variables and HIV/AIDS awareness Urban students scored better than rural students i.e. 70.8% urban students scored fare score as compared to 47.4% rural students and 26.3% rural students had poor score as compared to 8.4% urban students while good score was obtained by higher percentage of rural student (26.3%) as compared to urban studnet form Urban background (20.8%) (Table-4).
Table – 4 : HIV/AIDS awareness score based on socio-demographic variables.
| Demographic Variable Habitat | HIV/AIDS Awareness Score | ||
| Poor Score 11-13 | Fare Score 14-16 | Good Score 17-19 | |
| Urban | 2 (8.4%) | 17 (70.8%) | 5 (20.8%) |
| Rural | 5 (26.32%) | 09 (47.4%) | 5 (26.3%) |
Discussion
The study was conducted on 43 students of NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Findings reveals that 65% of students were from urban area and 35% of the students belong to rural area. It was depicted that more than 90% of the students were aware of the transmission of HIV/AIDS through blood products and blood transfusion and sexual activity, Whereas 7.69% students have misconception that HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted through sharing of needles and syringes. 95% of students accept the fact that there is no vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Study findings coincide with a study conducted by Suresh K Sharma on nursing students which states that 90% of students were aware about transmission of HIV/AIDS through sexual, blood and mother to childhood, 95% of students were aware that HIV/AIDS transmission can be prevented through use of condom & safe disposal of needles whereas 16% and 20% girls has misconception that HIV/AIDS can be prevented through use of vaccine. Study findings reveals that education media and communication play important role in spreading of knowledge of HIV/AIDS1.
Conclusion
It is concluded that more than 90% of students know about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS by various means. 93% of students are aware that HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted through touching, whereas 7% of the students had mis- conception that HIV / AIDS cannot be transmitted through sharing of needles and syringes. More than half of the students that is 62% students have fare score about HIV/ AIDS awareness but good awareness score found was only 23% students. So it is recommended that role of higher secondary education in preview of HIV/AIDS need to be appreciated and strengthen to give significant check over this devasting problem.
References
- Sharma K S, Kaur K , Kaur Awareness of HIV/AIDS among newly admitted Nursing students. Nursing and Midwifery Research Journal 2006 ;(2) : 32-37.
- Chopra S , Walia I, Das K. Antenatal Mother’s Awareness about HIV/ AIDS. Nursing and Midwifery Journal 2006; (1) : 166 to 172.
- Sudha RT, Vijay DT, Lakshmi Awareness, attitudes and beliefs of the general public towards HIV / AIDS in HIV AIDS. 2005.2005;59: 307-16. www.indianimedsci. orQltexi. asp
- Banerjee Mattie C. Knowledge perception and attitude of Youths in India regarding HIV AIDS. A Review of current literature. The International electronic Journal of Health Education. (www.ieihe.ora) , 8:4856.