Efficacy of Interventional Awareness Program on HIV/AIDS among High School Students of West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Worldwide Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection is a Public Health Problem. Adolescents and young people are inclined to experiment with sex and prone to have HIV infection. Interventional Education Program on HIV/AIDS may prevent spread of the infection. Materials and Methods: Knowledge and attitude of students (N=2373) of 10th to 12th grade from 38 schools of Kolkata about HIV/AIDS was assessed based on a questionnaire. Subsequently an interventional educational program was conducted for them. A follow-up study with the same questionnaire after 6-8 weeks of the interventional program was performed among the students (N=811) of 11th and 12th standard. Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS was evaluated by defining a ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Attitude’ score from responses of the students to relevant questions. Data was analyzed using SPSS, version 17 software. Observations Interventional Program improved student’s (a) responses to more questions, (b) knowledge level and (c) positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Significant improvement occurred in the association of knowledge score with respect to the male students after the Intervention Program but not much with respect to girls. Association of the attitude score with respect to gender and three streams (Arts, Science, Commerce) of study were significantly enhanced after the program. Discussion: Several studies around the world indicate that Interventional Educational Programs almost certainly improve knowledge and attitude of the school students about HIV/AIDS. Some differences in findings may be due to qualitative differences of the study participants. Our observations may not be extrapolated to other Indian Student Groups who may differ in awareness and cultural status