Youth health literacy: Assessing the impact of an interventional campaign on HIV/AIDS and STI awareness in urban schools of Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat

• Author Details:   
• Himani Bhardwaj Pandya ^*
• Nidhi Mihirkumar Bhalodia
• Rachana Bhavin Patel
• Binda Prakashbhai Pipaliya
• Saurabh Chhotalal Norris

Background: Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to misinformation and stigma regarding reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study evaluates the impact of a structured interventional campaign on the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of school-going adolescents in Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat.

Materials and Methods: An educational intervention study was conducted over three months, from July 1 to September 30, 2022, involving 210 students from grades 8 to 12 across three English-medium schools in Vadodara, Gujarat. A validated, structured questionnaire assessed baseline knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS through a pre-test, which was followed by interactive awareness sessions, including PowerPoint presentations and role-plays. Post-intervention changes were measured using the same questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test and p-value to assess significance and strength of associations.

Results: Following the intervention, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001) across all domains. Knowledge about activities that can transmit HIV saw a sharp rise from 15.2% to 65.7% (p < 0.0001), and understanding of non-transmissible routes (e.g., HIV is not transmitted through casual contact) improved from 40.5% to 88.6% (p < 0.0001). The ability to distinguish between HIV and AIDS rose from 36.7% to 85.2% (p = 0.00002). Misconceptions about HIV transmission through hugging, kissing, or handshakes decreased drastically, with correct responses rising from 42.4% to 97.6% (p < 0.0001). The intervention also resulted in significant positive shifts in students’ attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS. The percentage of students who opposed the idea that people with HIV should be kept out of school rose from 74.3% to 96.2%. Misconceptions related to stigma, such as ending friendships due to HIV status, have reduced drastically.

Conclusion: The educational intervention was highly effective in enhancing knowledge, correcting misconceptions, and fostering more inclusive and empathetic attitudes among adolescents. This emphasizes the urgent need for integrating age-appropriate, interactive sexual health education into school curricula.