Research in Medicine

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Abstract Background: HIV/AIDS is a major world wide health concern. The present study was conducted to determine knowledge and attitudes towards AIDS among high school students in Pakdasht. Material and method: Six hundred and fifty five students (404 females and 251 males) from 10 pre-university centers participated in the survey. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to measured knowledge (40 "true, false, do not" items), attitudes (16 items, 5-point Likert-type scale), and seven query (age, sex, educational field, sources of information, adequacy of information, need to more education and suitable ages). Results: Attitude toward HIV/AIDS was positive. General knowledge of 45.5% students was good (true responses to more than 75% of items), 45.2% was moderate (true responses to 50-74% of items) and only 9.3% had weak knowledge (true responses to less than 25% of items) however, results revealed low level of knowledge to oral sex, heterosexually contact, and the protective role of condom. TV was identified as the most frequent source of information, while 90% indicated the need for receiving HIV prevention education in the future. Conclusion: These defects may lead to further exposure to and contamination with HIV/AIDS. Thus, we recommend further surveys in this regard.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Attitudes, High school students.

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