Abstract

The aim of this descriptive study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of the first and fourth-year students (n=190) of Inonu University Health High School concerning HIV/AIDS. The questionnaire that developed by investigators was applied to students under observation. The main source of information was the lectures on the school. Mean scores on the knowledge of the fourth-year students were significantly higher than the first-year students. General knowledge scores of health official students were higher than midwifery and nursing students. The fourth-year students were highly knowledgeable about the transmission routes and precaution than first-year students. More than half of the students declared that they would not avoid from a person with HIV/AIDS, they would not fear to touch with a person with the disease and they would worry about getting AIDS. Nearly half of the students would not live together in the same home with a person with HIV/AIDS. Mean scores of the knowledge and the number of correct answers on main questions are definitely higher for the students. However, their some knowledge and attitudes to patients with AIDS were contradictory. This results suggest a need for effective strategies and education programmes for prevention and therapy of HIV/AIDS and developing positive attitudes to people with AIDS.

Key words: AIDS, student, knowledge, attitude

Article Language: Turkish English