DOI: 10.

14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A STUDY ON HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE AMONG NURSING STUDENTS OF
TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, BHOPAL.
Leena Balpande1, M.M. Gupta2, Sanjay S. Agarwal3, U.S. Shukla4

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:

Leena Balpande, M.M. Gupta, Sanjay S. Agarwal, U.S. Shukla. “A Study on HIV/AIDS Knowledge among Nursing
Students of Tertiary Care Hospital, Bhopal”. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 2014; Vol. 3,
Issue 06, February 10; Page: 1492-1497, DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The HIV/AIDS pandemic has become a serious public health problem.
As the prevalence of the infection rises, healthcare professionals worldwide can expect greater
clinical exposure to infected patients. OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the source of information about
HIV/AIDS among nursing students. 2. To assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding
transmission & treatment of HIV/AIDS. 3. To study the attitude of nursing students towards PLWHA.
METHODS: A cross sectional study has been done on nursing students of tertiary care hospital. Self-
administered questionnaire were used to collect data. RESULTS: The results were obtained from 205
respondents. Most of the students are from 20-23 of age group. Majority of students (97.1%) heard
about HIV/AIDS. 48.8% nursing students attended training programme on HIV/AIDS. About 61.5%
nursing student’s talk about HIV/AIDS in college. Association between gender & knowledge is
significant (p=0.003). Knowledge was higher in males. Association between age & knowledge is
significant (p=0.03). Knowledge increases with age. Based on present study findings students had
positive attitude towards PLWHA. Knowledge and attitudes were not associated (ᵡ2 = 1.347, p=
0.510). CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge about the diseases was considered to be good among
the study participants. Based on present study findings students had good level of positive and
favorable attitude regarding HIV/AIDS prevention.
KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS, nursing students, knowledge, attitude, PLWHA.

INTRODUCTION: The HIV/AIDS epidemic represents the most serious public health problem in
India1. Knowledge and specific information has an important role in HIV/AIDS prevention and the
health workers have a central responsibility in prevention, care & treatment. A survey carried out on
500 nurses in India showed that the conversion of their theoretical knowledge into safe practices was
shockingly poor. High incidence of accidental exposures and complete ignorance of post-exposure
prophylaxis guidelines was another highlight of this study2. Assessment of awareness level is
important because it helps to determine the impact of previous awareness & prevention efforts made
by the government1.
Nurses constitute a vulnerable group because of their job nature. Proper knowledge and
attitude will lead to safe practices and there by controlling the spread of disease. A study conducted
on student nurses in Nigeria showed an improvement in the knowledge and attitude towards the
disease and care for HIV/AIDS patients, as well as their compliance with universal precautions after
an education program for the group.3
The present study was conducted to assess the current level of knowledge of nursing students
regarding HIV/AIDS. The information/data collected through this study is utilized to prepare
teaching and training material for prevention of HIV infection transmission in nursing students and
other health care workers.

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1492
DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
MATERIAL & METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in Peoples College of Nursing of
Bhopal city with prior permission from college authority. The study was conducted during September
& October 2012 on 205 nursing college students of tertiary care hospital from different years of their
courses. Self-administered questionnaire were used to collect responses. Student’s responses were
taken for those who were willing and present at the time of study.
The participants were not forced to answer any question & they were free not to respond or
partially respond to any question. Questionnaire includes questions related to modes of transmission
of disease, availability of treatment and attitude about people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). For
knowledge, each right response was given a score of 1 while a wrong or unsure response was scored
zero. Attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients was assessed using a 7-item questionnaire, each has
maximum score of 5 (questionnaire include attitude towards the PLWHA & their family, reporting
needle injury, confidentiality of their name & report, government funds spent on services). Simple
statistical analysis was done using Epi-info.

RESULT: The demographic characteristics of the study population are presented in Table 1.

Variable Category Number (%)

16-19 90 (43.90%)
Age 20-23 109 (53.17%)
24-30 6 (2.92%)
Male 32 (15.6%)
Gender
Female 173 (84.4%)
st
1 yr. 53 (25.9%)
nd
2 yr. 45 (22.0%)
Year of 4 years Nursing Programme rd
3 yr. 66 (32.2%)
th
4 yr. 41 (20.0%)
Hindu 148 (72.2%)
Religion Muslim 7 (3.4%)
Christian 50 (24.4%)
TABLE 1: SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENT (n=205)

School & college was found to be main sources of information about HIV/AIDS (48.7%)
followed by mass media (TV. radio, newspaper etc.) i.e. 45.5%. Most of the students (61%) talks
about HIV/AIDS in college, 37% among friends and very few (2%) in their family. About 48.8%
students have attended training programmes in HIV/AIDS and 28.8% in sex education. But there is
no significant association of their knowledge with their training programmes (ᵡ2 = 7.587, p= 0.108).
Majority of students (97.6%) felt the need of training programmes/seminars and other educational
programmes regarding HIV/AIDS in educational institution.
Attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients was assessed using a 7-item questionnaire. Based on
scoring method, attitude is categorised as very poor (scoring between 0-7), poor (8-14), satisfactory

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1493
DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
(15-21), good (22-28) and excellent (29-35). About 60.49% students have good attitude regarding
HIV/AIDS. 27.32% students have excellent attitude.

Yes (%) No (%)

Have you heard about HIV/AIDS? 199 (97.1%) 6 (2.9%)
Is there any Difference between HIV infection and AIDS? 125 (61%) 80 (39%)
Is HIV/AIDS is a severe disease? 185 (90.2%) 20 (9.8%)
Can HIV/AIDS detected by blood test? 181 (88.3%) 24 (11.7%)
Whether truck drivers, prostitutes,
110 (53.7%) 95 (46.3%)
drug addicts, Homosexual are at high risk?
Is there a treatment for HIV/AIDS 119 (58%) 86 (42%)
Can AIDS cause death 172 (83.9%) 33 (16.1%)
Table 2: KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HIV/AIDS (N=205)

Association between gender & knowledge is significant (p=0.003). Knowledge was higher in
males. Association between age & knowledge is significant (p=0.03). Knowledge increases with age.
74.6% students thought persons with HIV/AIDS cannot feel healthy & look well. 61%
students thought that tuberculosis & weakness is the main symptom while 26.8% students consider
cough & fever is the main symptom and 12.2% students don’t know about any symptom.
73.7% knew about the prevention (condoms, adopt safe practices, not sharing needles, safe
blood transfusion etc.) & they can protect themselves from this infection.

Use of infected needle 46 22.43%

By transfusing infected blood 51 24.87%
Unprotected sexual intercourse 63 30.73%
Mother to child 23 11.21%
Didn’t response 22 10.73%
TABLE 3: KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MODE OF TRANSMISSION

Regarding knowledge about mode of transmission 183 students responded to these questions
(Table 3).

DISCUSSION: The present study aimed to assess knowledge, about HIV/AIDS among undergraduate
nursing students. As in this study C. Azodo et al in their survey of HIV/ AIDS related knowledge &
attitude among dental nursing students in South Western Nigeria (2007) found the respondents
overall mean of HIV/AIDS knowledge score was good (13.2)4, while in the study of Chizoma M
Ndikom et al in their cross sectional study on nurses/ midwives in Owerri, Nigeria found 51% had
moderate level of knowledge & 34.2% had low level of knowledge5. But in the study of Namaitijiang
Maimaiti done on the students of Xinjiang they found 74.5% students had good level of knowledge6.
In present study college/ school was the main source of information while in the study of
C.Azodo et al4electronic media was identified as the major source of information on HIV. Similar

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1494
DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
findings were found by EmanTaheret all in their interventional study done on two nursing groups in
Cairo University (2011)7.
In present study students consider unprotected sexual intercourse is the main mode of
transmission of disease (Table 3) while in the study of Namaitijiang Maimaiti6 80% of students
considered infection transmitted via sharing needles /syringes as well as vertical transmission from
mother to child but in present study 11.21% students thought that infection transmitted through
mother to child. In the study of C. Azodo4 among dental nursing students reported modes of
transmission are unprotected sex (97.8%), breastfeeding (97.8%), blood transfusion (95.5%), &
sharing of sharp objects (98.9%) but in the study of EmanTaher7 et al study they found transmission
of infection through infected blood as well as sharing of syringes are the main route and in the study
of Helena Nordkvist done among midwifery students of Vietnam8 99% reported infection spread
through sexual intercourse.
In present study students knew that HIV/AIDS is a severe disease (Table 2) but the
percentage of this is only 7.1% in the study of EmanTaheret7 et al while the percentage is high i.e.
98.1% in the minor field study of Helena Nordkvist done among midwifery students of Vietnam8.
In our study 74.6% students thought persons with HIV/AIDS cannot feel healthy & look well
similar kind of percentage i.e. 68.6% found in the study of Eman Taher7 et al in which students
thought than an HIV infected person looks tired & ill; but in the study of C. Azodo 4et al 48.3%
believed that all HIV positive patients look unhealthy.
In present study 42% students don’t know about treatment of the disease but the 85.4%
respondents were aware that there is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS in the study of C. Azodo 4et al. similar
finding i.e. 81.4% found in the EmanTaher7 et al. study.
In our study most of the students talks about HIV/AIDS in college, 37% among friends & very
few in their family similar kind of result found in the study of C. Azodo 4et al. but in different
categories like in his study 62.9% respondents had discussed HIV-related issues most frequently with
classmates/friends, 58.4% with parents/guardian, this percentage is very low in our study.
Knowledge of preventive measures in our study is 73.7% knew about the prevention
(condoms, adopt safe practices, not sharing needles, safe blood transfusion etc.) & they can protect
themselves from this infection, but 22% don’t know about the preventive measures; this is similar to
Namaitijiang Maimaiti 6study i.e. 65-75% thought condom can prevent HIV transmission during
sexual intercourse. The majority of participants (75.8%) in the study of Helena Nordkvist 8 et al
reported that they know how to protect themselves from HIV transmission in their work8.
With proper knowledge & health behavior, nurses in general can play an important role in the
health education of individuals & groups, & also play a role model role for lay people & the
community at large9. This study suggests that the education system needs to implement specific &
focused educational programs for students & promote health promotion. It is important that students
understand HIV prevention & transmission, as well as develop positive attitude & good practice6.

LIMITATION: The study had limitations. The small sample size makes it difficult to generalize the
study results outside this institution. Type of information and knowledge received from various
sources cannot be analyzed fully.

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1495
DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
CONCLUSION: The overall general knowledge about the diseases was considered to be good among
the study participants. Based on present study findings students had positive attitude towards
PLWHA. Knowledge and attitudes were not associated. It was observed in the study that a good
number of students were aware of modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Still they need to improve
their knowledge on sexual & reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS issues. These students may
need more education & training on the subject.

RECOMMENDATION: Nursing curriculum should include & conduct seminars/health talks, training
programmes, and educational programmes on HIV/AIDS. Adoption of safe practices & standard
precautions. Emphasis must be placed on in depth discussion on HIV/AIDS issue by experienced
health workers & lectures with nursing students in order to clarify existing misconceptions &
discourage discriminatory behaviour.

REFERENCES:
1. Mahajan P & Sharma N. Awareness Level of Adolescent Girls Regarding HIV/AIDS (A
Comparative study of Rural & Urban Areas of Jammu).J Hum.Ecol.2005; 17(4):313-14.
2. Kumar R, Mohan N, Seenu V, Kumar A, Nandi M, Sharma R K. Knowledge, attitude and practices
towards HIV among nurses in a tertiary care teaching hospital: two decades after the discovery.
J Commun. Dis. 2002; 34(4):245-56.
3. Charles B.U. Systematized HIV/AIDS education for student nurses at the University of Ibadan,
Nigeria: impact on knowledge, attitudes and compliance with universal precautions. Journal of
Advanced Nursing. 2000; 32(2): 416-24.
4. Azodo C, Umoh A, Ezeja E, Ukpebor M. A survey of HIV-Related Knowledge and Attitude among
Dental Nursing Students in South Western Nigeria. Benin Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.
2007; 9(1): 1-12.
5. Chizoma M, dikomand N and Onibokun A. Knowledge and behaviour of nurse/midwives in the
prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional
study.BMC Nursing. 2007; 6: 1-9.
6. Maimaiti N. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding HIV/AIDS among University Students
in Xinjiang. Global Journal of Health Science. 2010; 2(2): 51-62.
7. Taher E, Abdelhai R. Nurses’ Knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS: Effects
of a health education intervention on two nursing groups in Cairo University, Egypt. Journal of
Public Health and Epidemiology. 2011; 3(4): 144-54.
8. Nordkvist H, Pyykko E. Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes among midwifery students
towards HIV/AIDS in Vietnam.1-38.
9. Lewis M, Gray J. HIV/AIDS: Educational needs and attitudes of nurses in the Dominican
Republic. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health.2003; 9 (2): 59-64.

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1496
DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2014/2013

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

AUTHORS:
1. Leena Balpande 4. Assistant Professor, Department of
2. M.M. Gupta Community Medicine, Peoples College of
3. Sanjay S. Agarwal Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur,
4. U.S. Shukla Bhopal (MP).

PARTICULARS OF CONTRIBUTORS: NAME ADDRESS EMAIL ID OF THE

1. PG Resident, Department of Community CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Medicine, Peoples College of Medical Sciences Dr. Leena Balpande,
& Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal (MP). MIG 17/2A Saket Nagar,
2. Associate Professor, Department of Bhopal – 462024.
Community Medicine, Peoples College of E-mail: drleena29@gmail.com
Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur,
Bhopal (MP). Date of Submission: 21/01/2014.
3. Professor and HOD, Department of Date of Peer Review: 22/01/2014.
Community Medicine, Peoples College of Date of Acceptance: 28/01/2014.
Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Date of Publishing: 07/02/2014.
Bhopal (MP).

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/ Volume 3/ Issue 06/February 10, 2014 Page 1497