HIV/AIDS awareness and HIV/AIDS related stigma among senior secondary school students

Pages: 947-952
Swaran Lata and Varsha Singh (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)

Senior secondary school children of government and private school in Grades 11-12 (N = 400), girls (200) & boys (200) were surveyed to assess their HIV/AIDS awareness and HIV/AIDS related stigma. HIV/AIDS related stigma and HIV/AIDS awareness was measured by using the HIV/AIDS stigma scale (Genberg & Kawichai et al., 2007) and AIDS awareness questionnaire (Asthana) respectively. The finding reveal that there is significant group and gender difference in the HIV/AIDS related stigma and HIV/AIDS awareness among the students of private and government schools. Majority of the students had less awareness about HIV/AIDS and thus they were more stigmatized about the disease. Risk behaviours and attitudes are adopted in young ages therefore it’s very important to start imparting HIV education from early years, right from school. This would help in increasing the knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS and also reducing HIV related stigma in young population.