Knowledge, attitude and practices of college students of rawalpindi regarding HIV/AIDS

The study was carried out at intermediate and degree colleges in urban area of Rawalpindi, to asses knowledge, attitude and practices of college students regarding HIV/AIDS. Six colleges were selected 3 girls and 3 boys using probability proportional to size technique. All students of one class from each college were included as clusters. The sample size taken was 152 males and 150 females students. The mean age of the students was 18.4 years. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. All participants had some knowledge about HIV/AIDS. For most of the participants the source of information was Television. Most of the participants had awareness regarding common modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS. On average 58% of males and 49% of females had correct knowledge about modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS. 58% of males and 68% of females believed that HIV/AIDS could not be transmitted from pregnant mother to newborn. 86% and 54% males and 83% and 55% females were not aware of the fact that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through tattooing and ear/nose piercing respectively. There were gaps in the knowledge as how HIV/AIDS cannot spread. 45% of males were of the opinion that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through kissing and sneezing while 46% and 58% of females consider kissing and sneezing as mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Significant gaps and areas of weakness regarding HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and practices were found among intermediate and degree college students of Rawalpindi and there is growing need to develop training programs and include health education syllabus emphasizing HIV/AIDS knowledge in the curriculum of all the colleges

Prevalence of hypertension in punjab

To determine the prevalence of hypertension amongst the people of Punjab. Sampling design: a two stage stratified sample design was adopted for the survey, primary sampling Units [PSUs] and Secondary Sampling Units [SSUs]. Setting: Urban and Rural, Punjab 1990-1993. Subjects: Stratified systematic sample of 3991 males and females aged 18 years and above. Out of sample population 18.9% were smoker, 1.6% diabetics, 15% had high serum cholesterol level, 18.9% overweight and 4.7% were obese The prevalence of hypertension was 17.7% in adult population of Punjab. Among hypertensive 96.2% have mild hypertension 1.6% moderate hypertension and 2.2% have severe hypertension and among them 18.2% had isolated systolic hypertension, 42.3% isolated diastolic hypertension and 36.5% had combine hypertension The statistically significant association was found between hypertension and its risk factors [Blood glucose, serum cholesterol and body mass index.] No statistically significant association was detected between hypertension and smoking The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly according to increase in age. Hypertension was more prevalent among male as compare to female. The prevalence of hypertension was more in urban population than rural but this is due to high body mass index, high blood glucose and high serum cholesterol level of urban population. Among hypertensive 18.6% were aware about their hypertensive condition and only 12.5% were using antihypertensive drugs. Among antihypertensive drug user 37.9% have controlled hypertension