[ knowledge level and attitude of pre-university students of Yasuj city towards AIDS in 2003]

ABSTRACT

AIDS is not only a health problem but also a socio-cultural intricacy followed by economical consequences. Since a definite treatment has not been found so far and considering the importance of adolescence of status of school in health education, this research has been carried out with the aim to determine the knowledge level and attitude of pre- university students towards Aids. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study which was performed on 400 pre university students at the high-schools of the Yasuj city in 1382. The subjects were selected through regular and random sampling. The data collections device was a questionnaire including demographic information and questions about knowledge and attitude toward AIDS. The data were then analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Findings showed that most of the cases [98.2%] have heard about the disease. The source of getting information for most of students [63%] was mass media such as radio, TV, Newspapers and magazine. The knowledge level of most of the cases [77.5%] were good and their attitude were desirable [77%]. The study also showed a significant difference between the knowledge level of samples with sex, educational field, parent's occupation and mother's education and their attitude with their sex and mother's occupation and education [p<0.05]. There was also a significant difference between knowledge level and attitude of sample with their sex and mother's occupation and educatine. Findings revealed that most of the subjects had got their information from the mass media and the level of knowledge of most of them was good and their attitude was desirable. Thus extensive use of health education programs through mass media is recommended