KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION ABOUT STDS INCLUDING HIV INFECTION AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN INDORE

BACKGROUND The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception about STDs including HIV infection among 1000 adolescent school girls in Indore. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on a predesigned, pretested and structured questionnaire, STD score was calculated for every girl. Effect of factors such as age, mother's education, type of family and type of school on STD score was calculated. RESULTS Majority of girls belonged to mid-adolescent group, i.e. 86.6%, 66% belonged to English medium private school and only 34% from Hindi medium government school. Majority of girls lived in nuclear family (58.7%); 41% girls had average STD score, 15.5% had poor score. Only 43.5% had good score. Late adolescent had a good score as compared to early and mid-adolescent. Girls whose mothers were Graduate and Post-Graduate scored better. Girls in English medium private school scored better. Most important source of information was television (29.2%) followed by mother (15.3%).