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“Awareness on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Among the Adults." Chapter- 1 Background and Rationale 1.1 Introduction: AIDS, the acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome is a fatal illness caused by a retrovirus known as the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) which breaks down the body’s immune system, living the victim vulnerable to a host of life threatening opportunistic infections, neurological disorders or unusual malignancies. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has become a permanent challenge to health, development and humanity. It is one of the leading causes of death in the world. World young’s people have been identified to be at special risks of HIV infection, with majority of infection due to unprotected sex 1. Usually, adolescent age is the time when they begin to take interest in sexual relationship. They may want to experiment with sex without giving much consideration to take implication of their present behavior. It is also at this stage that many of them develop lifelong habits, which could easily be influenced through proper guidance. Several studies can be carried out to evaluate the knowledge of adult, to identify gaps in awareness and perception about HIV/AIDS. A national baseline HIV/AIDS survey among young people aged 15-24 years established that the STI disease burden was high among them. Approximately 25 percent of males and 21 percent of females in the surveyed population reported symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young men and women do not perceive themselves to be at risk of acquiring STI/HIV due to lack of awareness and rampant misconception regarding the transmission and prevention of STIs. Lack of knowledge on STI symptoms and consequent delays in care-seeking behavior increases their risk towards HIV 2. Misperceptions and stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS are a huge barrier to successful prevention and treatment of the disease in our country. Our society has an extremely conservative attitude toward sexual relations and therefore, issues relating to sexuality such


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