EFFECTS OF SOURCES, INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND KNOWLEDGE IN HIV/AIDS AWARENESS PROGRAMME IN PUNJAB.

Abstract

India is one of the largest and most populated country in the world with more than one billion inhabitants with around half of whom are adults in the sexually active age group. The first AIDS case in India was detected in 1986; since then HIV infection has been reported in all states and union territories. A study was undertaken to know the level of awareness about HIV/ AIDS among the women of Punjab from 2006 to 2008. A self administered questionnaire was completed by 10000 randomly selected women. The finding shows that the majority of the respondents know about the major routes of transmission and each of the information source listed made some contribution to the general knowledge about HIV/ AIDS processed by the respondent. But media, education, friends and relatives and area of residence have a significant role in determining HIV/AIDS awareness level. Media, particularly T.V. and education plays a leading role regarding this. Finding always indicate that myths related to the transmission and infection persists but the knowledge gap is narrowing. Interventions should aim to stimulate discussions in young people’s social network in order to increase overall AIDS information, communication and knowledge. Thus the information awareness should be selected according to the needs of social groups.