HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge among Secondary School Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aim of the Study: HIV/AIDS is best viewed as a major epidemic which poses serious challenges to mankind on a global scale. The aim of this study was to assess the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among secondary school students in Bangladesh and investigate the association between secondary school students' socio-demographic characteristics and their level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Methods: Following multistage random sampling technique, a total of 384 students aged 11 -17 years were sampled from eight secondary schools and interviewed through a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done at three stages including descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The findings of the study revealed that more than half (55.26%) of the students were above 14 years of age and their ages ranged from 11 to 17 years. This study also found that around three-fourths of the students (75.78%) watched television. With regard to knowledge, this study demonstrated that around two-fifths of the students (36.98%) had very good knowledge about HIV/AIDS and their main sources of HIV/AIDS information were television, newspaper, radio, textbooks, and teachers. The bivariate results of the study indicated that students' age, gender, type of school, household income, fathers' and mothers' literacy, and watching television were significantly associated with level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. In addition, students' age, mothers' literacy, and watching television were found as the significant predictors of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Watching television was documented as the best single predictor. Conclusion: The results of the study strengthen the assumption that there is an influence of students' socio-demographic characteristics upon their knowledge about HIV/ AIDS. Moreover, this study suggests that more information on HIV/AIDS should be included in the textbooks of secondary school students in Bangladesh to enhance their knowledge about the taboo subject.

Impact of teachers training on HIV/AIDS education program among secondary school students in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional survey

“…Studies found that primary sources of information for students about HIV/AIDS were the print and electronic media [14–23, 31], whereas textbooks, and teachers were the next important sources of information [20, 23]. In this current study however, no notable differences were found among students from both the control and intervention areas, in regards to exposure to TV/radio/newspaper.…”

The impact of HIV/AIDS education through formal curriculum and texts in Bangladesh: A study on secondary and higher secondary students

“…and higher secondary institution-based HIV/AIDS education is a common and well-proven intervention strategy for providing information on HIV/ AIDS to students. Young people including students are at the centre of the HIV epidemic; almost half of all HIV-infected people are aged 15-24 years across the world (Huda & Amanullah 2013;. Therefore, HIV/AIDS education through FCT can be considered one of the best mediums of disseminating information among students.…”

“…First, the students in Bangladesh are susceptible to HIV and STDs. However, they lack useful information about the taboo subject (Huda, 2013;Huda & Amanullah, 2013). Second, students and teachers in Bangladesh, a predominantly conservative Muslim society, are very reluctant to talk to each other about HIV/AIDS.…”

Knowledge About HIV/AIDS Among High School Students in Erbil City/Iraq

“…High school students’ knowledge about HIV/ AIDS might be varies by their socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, school type, family head income, fathers’ and mothers’ educational levels, and source of information. The study of knowledge of HIV/AIDS is considered a basic first step in the education process and prevention of the disease ( Huda & Amanullah, 2013 ).…”