Authors : Anamika Chanchal, Sanjay Bhonge, Rajaram Gavade, Deepak Raut, Dinesh Kansal
DOI : 10.18231/2393-9087.2018.0017
Volume : 5
Issue : 2
Year : 0
Page No : 75-81
Objectives: To know the Impact of Mass Media on Knowledge attitude and practices (KAP) amongst the ANC mothers attending the ICTC at DrRPG Medical College, Tanda.
Materials and Methods:This was a Hospital based, cross sectional study. The data was collected from pregnant women attending outpatient antenatal care (ANC) with prior written informed consent, from August 2017 to September 2017. A semi structured survey questionnaire was prepared for the study containing 54 questions regarding demographic information, HIV/STD information sources, HIV transmission knowledge, Misconceptions and attitude towards PLHIV. The questionnaire was administered as a face-to-face personal interview, and participant answers were filled in by interviewers.
Results:Mass media sources, such as TV programs, newspapers and magazines, were more frequently identified as the channels for HIV information than interpersonal sources, such as friends and service providers. Exposure to multiple sources of HIV information (where at least one source is mass media) was significantly related to HIV knowledge. Yet it is observed that the knowledge of transmission of HIV from mother to child is seen less than other mode of transmission amongst the ANC mothers. It is also seen that though the mothers know that the HIV testing is required but are not aware about the ICTC and its role. Even after so much of communication regarding the misconceptions, some misconceptions still exist among the ANC mothers.
Conclusion: Even though mass media have played important role to increase knowledge about HIV, there is need to create a supportive health promotion education mechanism in the form of Health educators at grass root level, who can do intensified social behavioural communication campaigning to bring about the expected behaviour changes by providing correct knowledge about the mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, Use of Condom, and to remove the misconception regarding the mode of transmission of the HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: HIV, Mass media, Knowledge