Sa, Bidiyadhar (PhD)Alemu, Solomon2019-01-172023-11-102019-01-172023-11-102007-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/15845This study was conducted to investigate the students' knowledge on HIV and AIDS and to assess if they have discriminatory attitude attached to HIV and AIDS and towards PLWHA in Ambo town. The study also attempted to compare the level of stigma and discrimination between female and male students. Moreover, the study aimed at examining the experience of pumA in relation to stigma and discrimination attached to HIV and AIDS. 264 JUAC students and three PLWHA participated in this study. Questionnaire, focus group discussion and case study were used as an instrument for the data collection. The collected data were treated with percentage and using Chisquare. The findings of these study shows that JUA C students have adequate knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS issues and the students did not hold stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes on HIV and AIDS and towards PLWHA. In addition, the study revealed that female and male students did not manifest significantly different stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes in relation to HIV and AIDS and towards PL WHA. The non-discriminatory attitude of the students can also be attributed to the awareness and knowledge on issues of HIV and AIDS. The study also found out that, even though, PLWHA are found to be subject to different types and forms of discrimination in the community, the magnitude of the stigma and discrimination is reducing. The study also uncovered that, the basis for HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination were found to be misconception and lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS, fear of contagion through causal contact and insensitive media reporting on the pandemic. Therefore, to minimize the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV and AIDS it was suggested that, well-designed and participatory awareness creation programs need to be strengthened and professional pre and post test HIV counseling for those affected and infected with HIV needs to be given. In addition the content of the information provided through the media should be carefully evaluated and checked for its appropriateness not to inflict stigma and discrimination before broadcasting.enRelation to Stigma andDiscrimination Attached to Hiv And AidsThesis