SANTRI’S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV/AIDS IN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL IN MAKASSAR CITY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Islamic boarding school students (santri) are part of a group of adolescents who mostly live in closed environments and have limited access to health information. Material on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS is often not a priority in the Islamic boarding school curriculum due to various value and cultural considerations. This condition can create a gap in students' knowledge about HIV/AIDS, including regarding transmission methods, prevention, and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Sev eral studies in Indonesia show that the level of knowledge of adolescents, especially in Islamic boarding schools, about HIV/AIDS is still relatively low. This has the potential to give rise to misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination against PLHIV, as w ell as hindering efforts to prevent HIV transmission. Therefore, it is important to determine the level and quality of students' knowledge about HIV/AIDS as a first step in designing health education programs that are appropriate to the cultural context and religious values in Islamic boarding schools. This study aims to explore in depth the students' understanding of HIV/AIDS, including the sources of information they access, as well as their perceptions and attitudes regarding this disease. The research results are expected to be the basis for developing more effective and sustainable health promotion and HIV/AIDS education programs in Islamic boarding schools, as well as supporting HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among adolescents in Makassar City. METHOD: Qualitative research method, the informants in this study were santri of the Darul Aman Gombara Islamic Boarding School, Makassar City. RESULTS & DISCUSSION: In-depth interviews were conducted with 4 informants, santri’s aged 17-18 years old. Most of them had heard about HIV/AIDS, some learned about it from social media, school lessons, and discussions with their friends. Understanding of transmission methods is still limited to sexual intercourse, transmission through blood, and some believe that maintaining personal hygiene can prevent and avoid contracting HIV. Generally, they admitted that they would limit their social interactions if a friend was infected with HIV, for fear of being infected. CONCLUSION: Understanding of how to prevent and transmit HIV among students is not yet comprehensive.