Knowledge and attitude of faculty of health students towards HIV/AIDS

AIDS is an important public health hazard in Iran. Young people are worldwide considered as the major group who are at risk of HIV/AIDS. Education and prevention of health have been remained as the priorities in the health care of AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and attitude of regarding HIV/AIDS among health faculty student in Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences. This research was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a self- administered questionnaire from 400 students who enrolled in the faculty of health with random classified sampling method. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used for collecting the data. The data were included demographic information and knowledge and attitude questions realated to HIV/AIDS. Data of knowledge and attitude was ranked in to three levels Chi-squared test, correlation and t-test were used as the statestical methods. P<0.05 was considered as the significant level. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The participant were included: 297(74.2%) females and 103(25.8) males.The majority of students, 385(96.2%), were singles. The mean value of age was 22.04± 2.3 years. The mean values of scores of knowledge and attitude were 20.28±0.68 and 66.13±2.78, respectively. The majority of the students, 385(96.2%), had high level of knowledge and 46(11.5%) of them had a medium level of knowledge regarding to HIV/AIDS. A total of 355(88.75%) of the subjects had positive attitudes regarding to theprevention programs of HIV/AIDS. There was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge and any of sciodemographic variables. there was a significant correlation(P<0.05) between the attitudes and the academic grades of students. In this study, it was found that the most students had appropriate level of knowledge and attitude about AIDS prevention programs. Updating the level of knowledge and performing the educathional programs regarding HIV/AIDS among the students are emphasized by the authors of the study.