The Effect of Group Counseling on Knowledge and Attitudes About AIDS Among Adolescent Girls Living in Welfare Boarding Centers

Abstract

Introduction: AIDS is one of the most serious health problems and one of the deadliest contagious and infectious diseases of this century. With lack of sufficient awareness of this disease, adolescents easily put themselves at risk of it. Increased knowledge about AIDS and attitude is the best way to prevent the disease. The goal of this research was to study the effect of group counseling on AIDS knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls. Methods: This is a Semi-experimental and interventional study (single band) conducted in 2016 on adolescent girls living in welfare boarding centers in Hamadan. All eligible persons (n =30) entered the study. The data collection tool was questionnaires with three parts including demographic information and evaluation of knowledge and attitude that were used three times (before, immediately after and one month after treatment). Validity of questionnaires was confirmed through the content and ostensible credit, and their reliability was evaluated by Chronbach’s alpha. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods using SPSS20. Results: The results showed that before the intervention, 40% of People had poor knowledge and 36.6% of people had poor attitude. The knowledge and attitude increased significantly (P<0/001) immediately in a month after the intervention, compared to the time before the intervention. Conclusion: The results showed that educational intervention through group counseling on AIDS can affect the adolescent girls’ knowledge and attitude in welfare boarding centers.

Keywords

• counseling
• knowledge
• attitude
• aids
• adolescent
• welfare boarding centers