KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF HIV/AIDS AMONG MARRIED AND NEVER MARRIED ADULTS (25-35 YEARS) IN MUMBAI & THANE DISTRICT

AIDS is an illness that damages a person‘s ability to fight off disease, leaving the body open to attack from ordinarily innocuous infections and some forms of cancers. AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus infects certain types of white blood cells. People infected with HIV may have no symptoms for ten or more years. They may not know they are infected. The objectives of the study was to ascertain the knowledge and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS in terms of: i) meaning ii) reasons iii) symptoms iv) precautions v) role of media vi) treatment and therapy vii) stigma and discrimination viii) challenges and strategies to overcome challenges among the age group of 25-35 years among married and never married males and females. The sample consisted of 120 participants (30 married men, 30 married women, 30 never married men, and 30 never married women) ages 25-35 years. Most of the participants belonged to nuclear family (49.2%) hailed from various religions, such as Hindu (48%); Jain (34.2%). Most participants were graduates (42%) and a few, post graduate (32%). More of the participants were professionals (28.3%) and a few in businesses (25%). The self-constructed tool was divided into two categories a) Proforma [18 introductory questions, such as gender family type] and b) knowledge and awareness related 9 items such as, meaning, reasons, symptoms regarding HIV/AIDS. Results revealed that a little more than one third of the total participants indicated the meaning of term AIDS, as a disease and disorder such as a sexual disorder and a few stated the meaning of term HIV as a disease, such as, sexual disease, and illness. Almost all mentioned about unprotected sex with person suffering from HIV/AIDS, a substantial majority also stated of blood transfusion as a reason. A large majority also stated of reused syringes/injections, blade/razor or any sharp thing. A majority of the participants mentioned about recurring fever, chills and night sweat; most of them also mentioned about sore throat when asked about the symptoms in HIV/AIDS affected patient. A substantial majority stated that always use new, disposable needle, syringes and razor blades, almost the same number of participants indicated using contraceptives correctly and consistently; and avoid multiple sexual partners when asked about precautions to be taken to avoid HIV/AIDS. Only a few participants knew about breast feeding cannot be done by HIV positive woman. Most of the participants indicated that media provides awareness knowledge, impart education and enhances information when asked about the role of media in creating awareness of HIV/AIDS. Some of the participants stated that the patients need to have clinical guidance. Most of participants mentioned about social-stigma such as out-casting, discrimination, etc. when asked about challenges faced by the individual suffering from HIV/AIDS. In relation to challenges faced by the families living with HIV/AIDS infected individual a few of the participants mentioned about negative image and social stigma. A large majority of the participants had knowledge on the reasons that causes/spreads HIV/AIDS, symptoms, precautions, about the role of media, stigma or discrimination towards individual infected with HIV/AIDS.