This study examined the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes of engineering college students in Lucknow, India. A questionnaire was administered to 192 students to gather information. The results found that most students had some basic knowledge about HIV transmission routes, though some misconceptions remained. While most students said they would support friends with HIV, nearly half were unwilling to have HIV-positive friends. The study concluded that youth are central to India's HIV epidemic and that comprehensive sex education programs for students delivered by trained teachers are needed.

1. A Study of HIV/AIDS Related Knowledge and Attitudes amongst the Engineering College Students in Lucknow city Uttar Pradesh Dr Shekhar Srivastava , Dr Arjit Kumar, Dr.P.Bhardwaj, Dr P.Gupta, Dr J.P.SrivastavaDepartment of Community Medicine, Era,s Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow

2. The present study designs to find out the knowledge and attitudes of the students of engineering colleges. The information obtained in this study will be used to demonstrate the need for development and integration of an HIV IEC training module. AIM

4. A pre tested pre designed questionnaire with questions pertaining to the knowledge and awareness of risk of HIV infection was given to the students which was approved by the ethical committee of College.

5. The purpose of the study was explained to the students and they were asked to answer question sincerely.

6. The questionnaire was filled in the class in the presence of doctors and investigators of Era’s Lucknow Medical College. They were given half an hour to complete the form without mutual consultation.Material and Methods

7. Consent forms were obtained from 192 out of 200 students. Eighteen students did not return surveys after consenting to participate in the study. Around 174 (87%) students returned the completed surveys Results

8. Out of 174 respondents, 110 (63%) were boys and 64 (37%) were girls. The mean age of the study population was 21.74 years . General characteristics of respondents

9. there was a significant difference found between male and female students with regard to mass media and friends as sources of HIV related information. Ninety-percent (90%) of males compared to 78% of females indicated mass media as source of information. Similarly, of those who reported friends as a source of information, 40 (37%) were males and 12 (19%) were females (p<0.05). Results

10. When asked about the difference between AIDS and HIV, out of 174, 24 (14%) engineering college students replied that HIV and AIDS are the same condition. Of these, eight (8%) were boys and 16 (25%) were girls. There was a difference regarding knowledge about routes of HIV transmission amongst boys and girls. In particular, twenty-eight (44%) female students, as compared to 31 (28%) male students, believed that saliva was a potent route of transmission. Sharing of razors was reported as a route of HIV transmission by 97 (88%) males compared to 50 (78%) females. Knowledge on causative agent for AIDS, and detection and transmission of HIV infection

11. Sixty-three students (36%) reported both female commercial sex workers and multiple sex partners as individuals at maximum risk of contracting HIV. These two categories were followed by homosexuals (11%), intravenous drug users (5%), commercial blood donors (4%), illiterate people (3%) and male commercial sex workers (1%). Twenty (12%) engineering students reported having no knowledge of the relationship between the type of sexual intercourse and the risk of HIV infection. Only 26 (14 %) students in our sample associated anal sex with maximum risk of HIV transmission. Of these 22 (20%) were males and four (3%) were females (p<0.05). Knowledge on causative agent for AIDS, and detection and transmission of HIV infection

12. Results pertaining to attitudes are shown 3.73(66.3) out of the boys reported in comparison to 24(37.5) of the girls that is total o 55.7 percent of the engineering student having no problem in having friends with hi aids . 44.3 percent of the student is not in favour of having friends with people infected with HIV/ AIDS. 95 (86.63 0 of the boys in view of 50.8 (96.6%) of the girls were of the opinion were that they will care for their friends and relatives infected with HIV/AIDS. whereas 15(13.63) of the total boys 9.3% of the girls are in favour of abandoning or keeping the friends or relatives infected with HI AIDS in isolation. Knowledge on prevention of HIV/AIDS, symptoms, and attitude of students toward HIV-infected persons

13. 64 (58.18) of the boys and 52(81.2) of the girls told that abstinence presents transmission of HIV while only 46.(41.8) of the boys and 12 (18.75) of girls told that they don’t think that HI transmission can be prevented by abstinence. Only 5 (4.5) of boys and 2 (3.) of the girls think that HIV is curable and most of the engineering students have told that HIV is not curable

14. Although awareness level about HIV/AIDS among Indian youth is fairly high (although individual studies show varying results depending upon study setting), high-risk sexual behavior without condom use and the presence of certain misconceptions constitute a major area of concern. A small proportion of youth appear still to hold Negative attitudes toward HIV voluntary testing and HIV-positive people (Anita Nath, 2009c) Even though an appreciable number of intensive HIV/AIDS-related programmes and policies are in existence, the effectiveness of these still needs to be evaluated. Youth stand at the centre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in India regarding transmission, impact, vulnerability and potential for change – they also represent the window of hope and opportunity Conclusion

15. Since most of the new infections occur in youth, any intervention in this age group is likely to have an impact on the disease trend (The key to HIV/AIDS control among youth lies in health education, behavioural change communication (BCC), and ensuring safe sex practices. The Government needs to respond to the desire for formal sex education, which has been expressed by the majority of students and teachers (Agrawal et al., 1999; Indian Express, 1996). Teachers, who are crucial for the success of any sex education programme, need to be adequately trained to handle delicate and sensitive queries from students.

16. The End