Knowledge about AIDS among first year students of Pharmacy-Biochemistry - State or Parana-Brazil, 1990

Abstract

The objective of this work was to verify AIDS knowledge among 1st year students from Pharmacy-Biochesmitry universities of Parana State- Brazil, 1990 to offer information to the planning of preventive programs and actions to health departments and university institutions. An analytical survey was done through a framed questionnaire to investigate AIDS-ways of transmission, prevention and treatment. The population was composed by 217 1st year students from Pharmacy Biochemistry university of Parana State. Variables such as sex, age, parent's school level and occupation were introduced to define the population. The instrument was based en a. search procedure and previous testing, therefore a self-administered questionnaire. Students from both sex and from all inquired universities seem to have correct information about HIV transmission. Among them 77,T% found it was high the chance to get AIDS from anal! intercourse. In despite of apparently knowing about prevention procedures, 39.1 % of men and 41.0% of women indicated good nourishment as a way to prevent infection by HIV. Among all universities selected 37,0% of students (average) indicated the vaccine as a treatment procedure for AIDS. They self-evaluated their knowledge on the subject in regular and insufficient levels. Generally students from both sex presented knowledge about ways of transmissions and prevention related to AIDS, however they presented as well inaccurate information concerning the treatment of this disease.