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RESEARCH
Abstract
Background
Among adolescents, girls are particularly vulnerable not only because they are more likely to be coerced for unprotected sex but also because they are more susceptible biologically to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection. This study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention programme aimed at girls focusing on knowledge of and attitude to HIV/AIDS.
Method
An educational intervention study was carried out among 791 rural girls (16-19 years) randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling from coastal villages in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, Southern India. They were educated regarding HIV/AIDS and their awareness levels were evaluated immediately and one month following intervention.
Results
Around 35-50% of the girls had misconceptions regarding the modes of transmission which significantly reduced to about 8 % after intervention (95% CI of difference in proportion = (9.2, 17.9); p<0.001). However, there was no change in their attitude regarding caring for people living with AIDS.
Conclusion
The data suggest that the educational programme can lead to a change in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS but more intensive sessions may be needed to bring about a change of attitude about caring for people with AIDS.
Key Words
Effectiveness; HIV/AIDS; Health education programme; Knowledge and attitude; Adolescents
Background
Adolescence is an important and sensitive period of one's life. World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee has considered adolescence as the period between 10 and 19 years, the second decade of life.1 Adolescents comprise 20% of the world's total population with one out of every five being an adolescent2. Out of 1.2 billion adolescent's worldwide, about 85% live in developing countries3. In India, there are 190 million adolescents comprising 21% of India's total population4.
Among adolescents, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection not only because they are more likely to be coerced invariably for unprotected sex than boys, but they are more susceptible biologically to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection5.
As a consequence, the risk of unwanted pregnancy, induced abortion, reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and STIs including HIV/AIDS has increased significantly for adolescents.
The factors responsible for these risks are an apparent trend of declining age at menarche, an increase in age at marriage, change in cultural values brought...