Teachers awareness and opinion about AIDS--a study from eastern Nepal

The potential for spread of HIV in Nepal is considered large because of the presence of extensive commercial sex workers, high rate of sexually transmitted disease, low condom use and many pockets of intravenous drug users. To prevent this disease from producing any public health problem in Nepal, strategies have been formulated by Government and non-government agencies in Nepal. School teachers' views and knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS are very important so that they can impart correct acknowledge about this dreaded disease AIDS to the school children who ultimately serve as catalytic agent to spread correct acknowledge in the community in long run. Teachers' awareness about HIV/AIDS in this study was fairly good. Majority of them were aware about established routes of HIV/AIDS transmission and various ways of preventing it. Various misconceptions regarding HIV transmission and its causes are the matter of concern. To impart education to the teachers and the community, more than 60% of the teachers expressed the radio to be the most effective medium. This can be suggested to the government to deliver more simple and attractive programmes about HIV/AIDS education through radio in suitable time for the community. The special AIDS education programme, for school teachers long term objective and with the support of government, non-government and social organizations will go a long way in dissemination of health knowledge to the school children.