Publication: HIV/AIDS and STI related knowledge, attitude and practice among high school students in Kathmandu valley
Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of high school students regarding HIV/ AIDS and STI
and to determine if a school education programme would bring about statistically significant positive change in the
knowledge, attitude and practice regarding HIV/AIDS and STI. Methods: The study was conducted among 1012
students of various schools in Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur). The tool for assessment
was confidentially administered closed questionnaire both before and after the education programme of 45 minutes
single class, standardized education package. Results: Knowledge on some aspect of the disease was quite low in
the study group. 45.8% had prior knowledge of HIV, 65.2% knew that HIV/AIDS could be transmitted by sharing
same needle, 46.2% knew that vaccine is not yet available for HIV/AIDS. Knowledge about STI was also quite low,
41.5% knew that pus in the urine is a symptom of STI and 41.7% knew that STI is curable. 4.2% of the study group
had previous sexual intercourse, 64.2% had sexual intercourse with friend and 35.17% had sexual intercourse with
commercial sex workers. 1.8% would commit suicide if they contracted HIV/AIDS. According to sex wise
distribution of the sample, female’s knowledge about HIV was low 43.2% as compared to male 48%, male’s
knowledge about transmission of HIV/AIDS from pregnant mother to child was low; 89.7% as compared to
female’s knowledge 94.2%. Female’s knowledge about commercial sex worker as high risk group was low (87.8%)
as compared to male’s knowledge 90.6%.
Key words: HIV, AIDS, STI, high school children.