نشریه پرستاری ایران (Feb 2009)
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Iran University of Medical Sciences Students about AIDS
Abstract
Background: Young people are most at risk of acquiring AIDS worldwide. It seems to be that proper education and knowledge about prevention methods is the most effective method for reducing the risk of HIV infection among this group. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to elucidate the degrees of proper knowledge, attitude, and responses of Iran University of Medical Sciences students towards AIDS in 1385-86 Material-Methods: The study subjects consisted of 4237 students, 425 of them were selected randomly based on each school student population. A questionnaire was filled out for each student. It consisted of questions regarding demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and other performance questions. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software Results: Most students in different grades and in different schools had high levels of knowledge (above 60%) about AIDS and its transmission routes. Among them, medical students had the highest level of knowledge (p<0.05).Most students (75.8%) indicated that they had been previously informed about AIDS through mass-media (radio, TV).Seventy five percent of the interviewed students had positive attitude towards preventive methods and believed that by strictly observing preventing behaviors we can not only reduce the chances of disease transmission, but also can properly interact with AIDS afflicted individuals. Around 84/7% of the students believed that proper sterilization of instruments is adequate for virus eradication and 55.5% of them believed that chlorine bleaching of blood contaminated surfaces is the best disinfection method. Conclusion: The results of this survey indicates the importance of education through mass media and other means such as in university books, in reducing the risk of AIDS transmission. Education of preventive methods both in simple and sophisticated language can do the most in elevating the general knowledge of people about AIDS and its methods of transmission.
