Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
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Project No. 225 (2006)Knowledge, Attitude <strong>and</strong> Beliefs Among Female High School Students inGrade 12, in Al Ain, regarding HIV/AIDS - An Intervention Study - Group 1Student Authors: Sheikha Ghareeb Salem Al-Kaabi, Dalal Saeed Naser Al-Mansoori,Amnah Ali Humaid Mohd Yammahi,Wadha Ali Rashed Abdulla Al-NeaimiFaculty Supervisors: Dr. F. Al Maskari, Dr. M. Grivna, Dr. R. BernsenAbstract:Objectives: Assuming that there is an insufficient knowledge <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS amongyoung population in United Arab Emirates <strong>and</strong> their unsupportive, stigmatizingattitudes towards HIV/AIDS people, we decided to target the high school femalestudents, grade 12 in Al-Ain to assess <strong>and</strong> improve their knowledge, attitude <strong>and</strong>beliefs toward HIV/AIDS through educational intervention study.Methods: Multistage stratified r<strong>and</strong>om sampling was used. Five female governmenthigh schools in Al-Ain were selected r<strong>and</strong>omly. Self administered questionnaires <strong>and</strong>educational interventions were used <strong>and</strong> data was analyzed using SPSS program.Results: The total sample was 482. Before the intervention, 19% <strong>of</strong> the respondentshad good knowledge <strong>and</strong> this rate increased dramatically to 88% after theintervention. Although majority <strong>of</strong> students knew the correct abbreviations <strong>of</strong> HIV <strong>and</strong>AIDS, there were many misconceptions about routes <strong>of</strong> transmission. Mosquito bites(58%), blood donation (74%), food, sharing combs <strong>and</strong> kissing on the cheeks wereincorrectly identified as routes <strong>of</strong> transmission. Only 22% <strong>of</strong> the participants agreedthat HIV positive students should attend ordinary schools with others. Most <strong>of</strong> theparticipating students wanted to know more about HIV/AIDS <strong>and</strong> its incidence in theUAE. Media was the main source <strong>of</strong> knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among the studypopulation. However, according to the participants health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals were the mosttrusted source <strong>of</strong> knowledge.Conclusion: Majority <strong>of</strong> students had moderate knowledge about HIV. However, many<strong>of</strong> them had a lot <strong>of</strong> misconceptions about its modes <strong>of</strong> transmission. There was anegative, discriminative attitude toward HIV positive people. Theses results wereimproved after intervention indicating the successfulness <strong>of</strong> the intervention.
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