STUDENTS' AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF HIV: INSIGHTS FROM UNIVERSITAS UDAYANA, BALI

HIV is the shortened form for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus, such as the virus that causes the flu or cold. A virus is a minute particle that lives as a parasite in plants, animals, and bacteria. It consists of an inside (core) made of a substance known as nucleic acid and an outside (sheath) made of protein. AIDS is a shortened form for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a condition caused by HIV. This virus, as stated earlier, attacks the immune system, the body's "security force" that fights off infections. When the immune system breaks down, this protection is lost and can lead to the development of many serious, often deadly infections and cancers. This is research is using based on descriptive cross-sectional study in order to obtain data about the amount of knowledge students about the mode of transmission and the progression of the disease in Udhayana University. About 100 students from academic year 2015 and 2016 participated in this study. Male participant from Udayana University who attended school in the city and also currently in their semester III has a much better awareness about Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) than the other male participants. Besides that, the female participants who has a better understanding and awareness on HIV is female participant who is from semester I and who went to city school. In conclusion, in order to outspread such understanding and alertness more globally, implementation of awareness program should be established among the publics through social media, health talks and medical tours.