{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.019146608315098467, 'fraction_numerical': 0.006564551422319475, 'mean_word_length': 5.48581560283688, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 2, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Effect of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) on Knowledge and Attitude regarding Premarital HIV and Haemoglobin Genotype Testing among Adolescents

Background: Premarital screening is a test done for younger adults and couples considering marriage for prevention of genetic, infectious and blood transmitted diseases. Adolescent and college young adults must be educated about potentially life-threatening infectious and genetic disorders for the promotion of their health, well-being as well their offspring too. For providing accurate and unbiased education and information, the IEC is considered to be an effective intervention strategy. Materials and Methods: The study was done to assess the effect of IEC on knowledge and attitude regarding premarital HIV and Haemoglobin genotype testing among adolescents in a selected Pre-University Colleges, Bengaluru. An evaluative approach with quasi experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was used. A study sample comprised of 60 adolescents in experimental group and 60 adolescents in control group. The sample was selected using lottery method of the simple random sampling technique. The Structured knowledge questionnaire and Three point Likert scale was used to assess the knowledge and attitude level of adolescents respectively. Results: Study results revealed that the experimental group which received IEC showed significant difference in the improvement of knowledge (p < 0.001) and the attitude score (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that IEC is a best strategy to spread awareness through proper use of materials to young people to achieve a desired positive outcomes in terms of improving knowledge and positive attitude on prevention of life threatening infectious diseases and genetic disorders.