Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices regarding STIs and HIV/AIDS among Adolescents in Selected Rural Public Secondary Schools of Lalitpur District

Abstract

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are emerging as major health threats among adolescents in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the Knowledge, Attitude & Practice (KAP) on STIs & HIV/AIDS among adolescents. Methods: The study population included adolescents of class 9 and 10 in rural public (government) secondary schools of Lalitpur district. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which was carried out in two schools. Both qualitative & quantitative data were collected using structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Census method was applied for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The results show that 98% of the respondents had heard about HIV/AIDS. Majority of the students (80%) received information from teachers followed by information from mass media (55%), health workers (54%) and friends (50%). A large percentage (94%) of the respondents said they have knowledge on HIV/AIDS transmission through unsafe sex. Almost three quarter (71%) believed that mosquito bite transmits HIV/AIDS. Third of the respondents (70%) said they should either do the same behave as other people or respect HIV/AIDS infected people. One third of them had experience on misbehavior due to HIV/AIDS status and most of the responses indicated people in our society like to stay away from individuals infected with HIV/AIDS and have negative feeling towards them. The findings conclude that adolescent had average level of KAP on STIs and HIV/AIDS as compared to the national level surveys (MoHP et al., 2011, NCASC, 2012); however, the study reported a large percentage of misconception on HIV/AIDS among students. Majority of the student heard about HIV/AIDS from their teachers. The positive attitude of students towards people living with HIV/AIDS was great and appraisable though many of them had experienced social discrimination due to HIV/AIDS.

Conclusions: As STIs and HIV/AIDS are integral to improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, steps should be taken to provide information on situations when HIV/AIDS can be transmitted and when it cannot be. Prompt considerations on reducing the social discrimination against HIV/AIDS are required. Keywords: adolescents; attitude; HIV/AIDS; STIs; knowledge; practices; sexual and reproductive health; social discrimination.