DOI Number: 10.5958/j.0976-5506.4.2.

064
Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2013, Vol. 4, No. 2 293

A Study of Knowledge & Awareness Regarding

HIV / AIDS among Nursing Students

K P Joshi1, M Robins2, Debjani Mitra Sen3, KM Mallikarjunaih4

1
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, 2Prof. & HOD, Dept. of Community Medicine, 3Tutor,
Dept. of Community Medicine, 4Asst. Prof. Statistics, Dept. of Community Medicine SVS. Medical College,
Yenugonda, Mahabubnagar (A.P.)

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV/AIDS can be called our modern pandemic, affecting both industrialized and
developing countries. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are 33.3 million people living with HIV
in which 30.8 millions are adult (15.5 millions are women) and around 2.5 millions are children.
During 2009 some 2.6 million people newly infected with HIV and an estimated 1.5 million people
died from AIDS. So HIV today is a threat to men, women and children of all continents. Due to
frequent and prolonged contact with the patients , nursing students are being identified as a potential
high risk group for the HIV/AIDS spread so keeping this thing in mind we have selected the
nursing students for the study to assess their level of knowledge & awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.

Research Question: What is the level of knowledge and awareness among Nursing students regarding
various aspects of HIV/AIDS?

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and their awareness regarding HIV/AID
Study Design: Cross Sectional Study

Setting and Participants: All Nursing Students of SVS Nursing College, Mahabubnagar.
Methodology: After the ethical clearance, the Present study was carried out in the last week of
November 2011,with the aim to assess the status of knowledge and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS
among 2nd,3rd, & final year nursing students of SVS college of nursing, Mahabubnagar A.P. For
collection of data a pre designed, pre tested questionnaire were given to all the participants to fill up
during the class in the lecture gallery who were present on that day. The data was collected and
analyzed in descriptive statistical method.
Results: Out of total 190 nursing students, 168 (88.42%) students participated in this study, in which
83% were female & 17% were male. Most of the students (96%) were in the age group of 18-24 years.
The full form of HIV and AIDS were not known to 48% & 17% participants respectively. Around
83% participants said that sexual route is the most common route for HIV transmission. Around
3.58% participants were having the misconception that HIV transmission is possible through hugging,
sharing toilet seats, towels, utensils, shaking hands with HIV infected patients. Most of students
(95.23%) were aware regarding the various preventive measures for HIV/AIDS. Around 86.90%
participants were aware that most commonly immune System is affected by HIV. Some 14.88%
participants said that Vaccine is available for HIV/AIDS & 15.47% said that it is curable. Around
31% participants were afraid of cross infection in giving nursing care to HIV/AIDS. Around 44.50%
participants said that ART in PEP for HIV/AIDS is not useful.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Nursing, PEP, ART, etc

threatening opportunistic infections and other

INTRODUCTION
Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is
a fatal illness caused by a Retrovirus Human
Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) that breaks down the
bodys Immune System leading to a host of life
complications1. Among the special features of HIV
infection are that once infected, it is probable that a
person will be infected for whole life. Strictly speaking
that term AIDS refers only to the last stage of HIV
infection. AIDS can be called our Modern Pandemic

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 294 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2013, Vol. 4, No. 2

,affecting both industrialized and developing RESULTS

countries2. During 2009 some 2.6 million people newly
Out of total 190 nursing students , 168 (88.42%)
infected with HIV and an estimated 1.5 million people
student participated in this study, in which 139( 83%)
died from AIDS3. So HIV today is a threat to men,
were female & 29(17%) were male participants. Around
women and children of all continents. Amongst the
47% students came to know about HIV/AIDS first time
health care professionals, nurses and nursing students
after entering in nursing course only. Around 3.58 %
are an important component of the health care delivery
students believed that HIV can be transmitted through
system & very important part of health team. Since
hugging, sharing toilet seats, towels, utensils, &
they are the one who are responsible for the constant
shaking hands with AIDS patients & 13% students
care of out and in-patients and thus, they come in close
were having misconception that it can transmit
contact with blood and other body fluids of patients.
through mosquito bite also. Knowledge regarding the
Due to frequent and prolonged contact, they are being
Magnitude of HIV/AIDS in India was poor as only
identified as a potential high risk group for the HIV/
14% students could answer correctly. Around 19%
AIDS spread .To reduce the transmission among this
participants were not having the knowledge of
group, adequate knowledge regarding epidemiology
common symptoms of AIDS disease.
of disease & awareness about the disease and practice
of safety measures are of great importance and can
play crucial role in prevention of HIV spread .Keeping
this thing in mind we have selected the Nursing
students for the study to assess their level of
knowledge & awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.

METHODOLOGY

Present study was carried out in the department

of Community Medicine SVSMC, Mahabubnagar, AP
during last week of November 2011,with the aim to
assess the status of knowledge and awareness
regarding HIV/AIDS among 2 nd,3 rd, & final year
nursing students of SVS college of nursing,
Mahabubnagar A.P. Permission from ethical
committee of the SVS Medical college were taken
before conducting the study. In present study any
intervention or any drug/vaccine trail was not done.
Informed consent was taken by all the participants.
The study was designed as cross-sectional study.
All 168 students who were present on that day were
included as participants. For collection of data a pre
designed, pre tested questionnaire were given to the
participants to fill up during the class in the lecture
gallery. Around 25 open ended questions were asked
in the questionnaire regarding the basic general
information, magnitude, modes of transmission,
wrong concepts, treatment and prevention of HIV/
AIDS. 30 minutes time was given the students to fill
up the questionnaire. During this period invigilation
was done by Faculty members of community
medicine. Questionnaires were collected and analyzed
in descriptive statistical method.
Above graph shows that 83% students said that
sexual route is most common mode of HIV
transmission.
Around 87% participants were having correct
knowledge that HIV attacks on immune system of
human body but 2.97% said that it affect respiratory
system, 1.78 % said digestive system & 8.33% cardiac
system mainly. 61% of participants were having the
correct knowledge regarding high risk groups for
HIV/AIDS transmission. Only 67% nursing students
were known to universal precautions. 15.47%
participants said that complete cure of AIDS is
available & Some14.88% participants said that there
is Vaccine available for HIV/AIDS. Around 44.50%
participants did not know that Post Exposure
Prophylaxis of ART can be useful in accidental HIV
infection. Around 97.61% participants were aware that
World AIDS day is celebrated every year on 1 st
December & 69% were aware regarding Red Ribbon
Club .Around 72.62% participants said that Behavioral
change Communication (BCC) can help in prevention
of HIV/ AIDS .

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 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2013, Vol. 4, No. 2 295

TABLE 1. From where do you gather all this are high which can further lead to discrimination in
knowledge & information regarding HIV/AIDS?- patient care or apprehensions and stress amongst the
1. Study(books) 137 81.54% healthcare providers while dealing with such patients.
2. TV 09 5.36% An awareness study on HIV/AIDS on nursing
3. News papers 10 5.95% students of Delhi by Kumar et al5 also revealed a high
4. Friends & peer group 12 7.15% level of popular misconceptions. Similar
5. Total 168 100% misconceptions have also been reported among
medical school faculty andstudents6.
TABLE 2. According to you which is the best method
for creating awareness regarding HIV/AIDS among Students awareness and opinion about HIV/AIDS
general poulation?
in the current study was fairly good which is similar
1. TV 145 86.31% to study findings by Dutta et al 7in Kolkata and Kumar
2. News papers 09 5.36% et al 5in Delhi among the nursing staff. In present study
3. Drama/folk play 05 2.97% the Students attitude with regard to receiving
4. Announcement 02 1.19% unscreened blood looks to be quite a casual one, only
5. Posters& Pamphlets 07 4.17 13% of them were ready to accept unscreened blood
6 Total 168 100% during any emergency. Quite similar observation was
found in Naveen K. Goel et al8 study were Fifteen per
Above table 1 shows that most of the students cent of student were ready to receive unscreened blood
(81.54%) gathered the information regarding HIV/ in case of emergency. This finding is also similar to
AIDS from study by books , 7.15% from friends & peer the findings of another study conducted among staff
groups ,from TV -5.36% and 5.95% participants got nurses of Banaras Hindu University9. Perhaps they
information from news papers. On other hand TV were not aware of the fact that the probability of
(86.31%) was considered best method for creating contacting the disease through blood or blood product
regarding HIV/AIDS among general population. In is more than 90 per cent. They require proper
last when we asked that in future will you nurse HIV/ knowledge in this regard as they are cornerstones of
AIDS patients knowingly? Around 69% said yes they our health delivery system.
will nurse and 31% said they are afraid of nursing
HIV/AIDS patients because of risk of transmission. In the present study, study from books appears to
be the main source of knowledge & information on
DISCUSSION HIV/AIDS (81%) but Television comes first as main
source for creating awareness (86%). This suggests that
HIV infection is not only a significant health this mass media tool has reached to most of the
problem but also one of the most important social population and may be utilized properly to create
issues of the twenty-first century4. Every HIV positive awareness. Similar findings were found in a study
patient is a potential candidate for disease transmission conducted by Naveen K. Goel et al,HIMC,
to the Attending health care workers. Amongst the Dehradun,UK.8
health care professionals, nurses and nursing students
are an important component of the health care delivery In present study it is very encouraging to see that
system. Since they are the one who are responsible for 98 per cent of the students are eager to participate in
the constant care of in-patients and thus, they come in campaigns against HIV/AIDS which indicates that
close contact with blood and other body fluids of new generation is prepared mentally to equip
patients. Due to frequent and prolonged contact, they themselves with the correct knowledge this finding is
are being identified as a potential risk group for the also similar findings were found in a study conducted
HIV/AIDS spread. While the basic information about by Naveen K. Goel et al, HIMC, Dehradun,UK8.
the disease like causative agent, modes of transmission,
etc. were known to most of the participants, The present study reflects that around 67% students
deficiencies in their knowledge and awareness in many are aware regarding various methods of universal
critical areas of the disease were noticed. These Precautions to protect themselves as well as their
deficiencies in knowledge influence their behavior patients from the dreadful disease.Steirborg10 found
thus, exposing them to the risk of transmission. positive correlation between knowledge and attitudes.
He also observed that nursing students having HIV/
As it can be seen from the present study that AIDS care experience had significantly more positive
misconceptions regarding transmission of the disease attitude than those without such experiences.

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 296 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. April-June 2013, Vol. 4, No. 2
Continuous & periodic training & awareness programs
are required to sustain the effect of these activities so
that it could enable them to overcome fear, tension,
discomfort and anxieties about HIV/AIDS.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall general knowledge & awareness
about the diseases was considered to be good among
the study participants. Some misconceptions about
HIV/AIDS were found and immediately corrected
through the health education intervention, as detected
by the improved correct response rates. However, a
small proportion still exists and needs to be addressed
by repeated & periodic health education programs.
Television was found to be the most important source
of knowledge & awareness among our study
participants that shows impact of mass media on
younger generation .Based on review of the reported
literatures from our country on this topic till now and
the outcomes of the present study, it is clear that our
efforts in the last two decades in spreading the
knowledge about the disease have met with some
limited success. The fact that increasing number of
cases of HIV/AIDS are being reported from various
parts of the world coupled with increased incidences
and prevalence of the disease in the bridge population,
it is imperative for the health care policy makers to
review and reorient the ongoing training
programmes11. Apart from this group discussions and
various other innovative methods of teaching
practices can be included in the curriculum of nursing
course with emphasis on more on training and
counseling for HIV /AIDS to enable them to act as a
counselor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We authors are thankful to the Dean of SVS Medical
college & Principal of SVS College of Nursing,
Mahabubnagar, for giving us permission to conduct
this study & for their co-operation during study. We
are also thankful to all the nursing students
(participants) for their co operation in study. We are
also thankful to all faculty members of dept. of
Community Medicine for their support.
Conflict of interest: In the present study the
presence of a conflict of interest is independent from
the execution of impropriety. In the present research
study primary interest which refers to the principal
goals of the profession or activity, such as the protection
of subjects, the health of participants, the integrity of
64. KP Joshi-293-296.pmd 296
research, and the duties of public office were
maintained without any failure. There was no hazards
for environment or human or animal life in this study.
This Secondary interest like any financial gain or any
wish to do favors for family and friends or colleagues
was not done by this study. This study was conducted
mainly for research, learning & professional
advancement.
Source of support: The present study was
conducted in minimum expenditure and whatever
fund & support was required , it was fully given by
the management of SVS Medical college,
Mahabubnagar (SVS Educational Society). No other
funding agency is involved in this study.
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