AIDS Awareness: An Iranian Case Study at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess Iranian university students’ awareness about AIDS and their perspective on HIV-positive patients. The study also took into account the relationship between the university students’ attitudes toward AIDS patient and their sensitivity towards AIDS. The required data for this survey study was obtained through the use of a questionnaire. The target population for the research consisted of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad university students during the 2014/2015 academic year. The questionnaire was distributed among the students and the analysis was done using Cochran’s formula and stratified random sampling. Sample size consisted of 230 male and female students. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS (Version 21) software. Research findings indicated that there was a positive correlation between the students’ awareness level and their perspective towards HIV-positive patients. In other words, with the increase of awareness about AIDS, students could gradually formulate a more positive perspective towards AIDS patients. The results also showed a negative correlation between students’ awareness level and their sensitivity to this issue. This means that students became less sensitive to AIDS as a taboo while becoming more knowledgeable regarding AIDS. Furthermore, the achieved findings demonstrated a significant relationship between the mean of awareness level in two variables of gender and academic degree. Finally, the mean of the students’ level of awareness about AIDS, their perspective about AIDS patients, and their sensitivity were respectively evaluated as high, high, and moderate.