A study to assess knowledge and attitude towards HIV among students from Mumbai university

Dnyanesh Limaye; Gerhard Fortwengel; Vaidehi Limaye; Aishwarya Bhasi; Aditya Dhule; Rajesh Dugane; Asang Borkar; Ravi Shankar Pitani; Sushama Sathe; Atul Kapadi

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20192158

Authors

Dnyanesh Limaye Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany Department of Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7264-9210
Gerhard Fortwengel Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
Vaidehi Limaye Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
Aishwarya Bhasi Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
Aditya Dhule Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
Rajesh Dugane Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
Asang Borkar Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
Ravi Shankar Pitani Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
Sushama Sathe Department of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Health Sciences & Management and Chetan Dattaji Gaikwad Institute of Management Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Atul Kapadi Department of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Health Sciences & Management and Chetan Dattaji Gaikwad Institute of Management Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20192158

Keywords:

AIDS, Attitude, HIV, Knowledge

Abstract

Background: India has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. The Indian epidemic is characterized by low levels in the general population and elevated concentrations among high-risk groups. The present study was planned to determine the awareness of HIV among students from Mumbai University.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students from Mumbai University, India during May–June 2017. Two hundred and fifty students were approached to participate in the study of which 199 agreed to participate (males: 132; females: 67). Pretested questionnaire was distributed and collected data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.

Results: Study participants had high knowledge (86%) and attitude score (87%). There was no significant difference between males and female participants for attitude and knowledge, except for one question regarding knowledge about HIV transmission via breastfeeding to child.

Conclusions: Present study showed that there are no misconceptions or negative attitudes regarding HIV among students. A longitudinal study with a larger sample size across India is recommended for further investigation.

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