Evaluation of Primary and High School Students' Knowledge About AIDS

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare primary and high school students' knowledge about AIDS according to the parameters of age, social and economical statuses and benefit from education about AIDS disease. Materials and Methods: Samples of the study was chosen from primary and high schools of two towns of Ankara: Abidinpasa and Cankaya. Economic opportunities of the students and education levels of their parents were evaluated with a questionnaire. The data was collected before and after the education about the way of transmission of AIDS. Results were evaluated by 'Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Windows 11.5. Results: Total number of participants was 382, of which 180 were primary school students and 202 were high school students. Statistical difference was observed between the two towns regarding the education and income level of the father. Most of the students were aware of the fact that the disease is contagious and that affects the immunology system. However, we determined that behavior and attitude about the way of transmission of AIDS were not appropriate. Students' source of information about AIDS ranged (in descending frequency) as follows: television, newspaper, parents, teachers, books, medical experts, internet and friends. It was remarkable that the highly attractive internet is not a means of research for students. Television was preferred as the most important source of information. Conclusions: We concluded that students need primarily a sexual education and then education about the sexually transmitted diseases, primarily AIDS, for the preservation of general public health.