An Epidemiological Study on the Awareness and Attitude of the Youths Toward AIDS in a Rural Area of West Bengal in India.

INTRODUCTION: This community-based cross-sectional epidemiological study was performed to assess the awareness and attitude of youths toward AIDS in a rural area of West Bengal in India.

METHODS: Study population included 190 individuals (15-24 years). Data were collected using a semistructured, pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 17 by logistic regression model.

RESULTS: It was revealed that older youths and particularly men compared to women had more comprehensive knowledge of AIDS than adolescents. Education, media exposure, marriage, and possessing above poverty level (APL) status, all had stronger positive association with youths (more in men) having comprehensive knowledge of AIDS. Older, never married youths, and particularly men were more likely than adolescents to have accepting attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS. Education, media exposure, and not having below poverty level card, all had stronger positive association with youths having accepting attitudes toward women than toward men. Surprisingly among the male APL population, this association was negative.

CONCLUSION: Educational and socioeconomic setbacks should be overcome in order to impose a better and justified attitude toward HIV/AIDS. Improved health conditions, proper counseling, and knowledge are essential to break the barriers of communication and ignorance toward HIV/AIDS in these parts of the developing countries.