(e.g., condom breakage, sexual assault). To be effective, PEP must begin within 72 hours of exposure, if not virus may rapidly replicate in the body. PEP consists of 2-3 antiretroviral medications and it should be taken for 28 days. The physician will decide the type of treatment based on the exposure to HIV. These medications have serious side effects that can make it difficult to complete the treatment. Hence people need to be educated.[4]. Ruchita R, Dixit, (2011), A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding HIV/AIDS among health care workers in Serbia. The results revealed that the majority of health workers had adequate knowledge on modes of HIV transmission, 89% of health care workers perceived that high professional risk of acquiring HIV infections and 29% of health personnel expressed that they use adequate protection during their daily work with patients. The study concluded that there is an urgent need to educate on HIV/AIDS among all categories of health care workers. [5]. As per the WHO Statistics (2007), it is estimated that worldwide 33.2 million people are infected with HIV. Each day, thousands of people around the world experience accidental exposure to blood and other body fluids or tissues while performing their work. Health care workers are especially vulnerable. Moreover, in many parts of the world, the potential for workplace accidents that may expose workers to HIV-infected blood and other body fluids is increasing. [6]. A report released in an International conference (2010) on “Stop AIDS. Keep The Promise- Universal Access and Human Rights” was conducted in Austria states that India remains one of the developing Asian countries having the highest number of infected patients. Being a developing country, the post-exposure prophylaxis strategy remains in the developing stage which attributes largely to various issues/controversies surrounding post-exposure prophylaxis. Hence there is an urgent need to conduct feasibility and utility studies in the public health sectors. [5]. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre of Kolar district (2011-2012) records shows that the HIV positive people have touched the figure of 4706, which include males, females, children, and transgender and commercial sex workers. Surprisingly, the number of occupational exposures reported in the Kolar ART centre is 13, out of which a major count is shared by nurses. Above all, the shocking news reveals that none of them has undergone complete post-exposure prophylaxis.[7].

both positive and negative statement. A pilot study was performed on 10 BSc nursing students to test the reliability and feasibility of the study. The reliability of the knowledge tool was conducted through the Kuder and Richardson Formula 20 (KR20) the result was 0.84 and the reliability of the 5 poin2t rating scale was analyzed by using the Cronbach Alfa method it was 0.92.

Scoring Criteria of Knowledge Score:

Table 1: Scoring criteria of knowledge score.

Table 2: scoring criteria of level of perceived threat.

more than the tabulated value 0.250  for df 78 at 0.05 level of significance hence there is a significant correlation between knowledge and level of a perceived threat of nursing students regarding post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV/AIDS infection among nursing students. Therefore investigator accept the research hypothesis H₁ and null hypothesis H₀₁ is rejected

Table 5: Finding related to Relationship between knowledge and level of a perceived threat of nursing students.  N=80.

It is evident from table No. 5 that for the relationship between knowledge and level of perceived threat, the calculated value of Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient is 0.76 and the tabulated value of correlation coefficient is 0.250 for DF 78 at a 0.05 level of significance.

The calculated value is found to be greater than the tabulated value, This means that the relationship between knowledge regarding post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV/AIDS infection and the perceived threat due to needle stick injury among nursing students is a true relationship and not by chance. Therefore investigator accepts the research hypothesis H₁, so it can be stated that with an increase in knowledge regarding post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV/AIDS infection of nursing students, the level of perceived threat due to needle stick injury decreases. There is no significant association between knowledge of nursing students and demographic variables such as gender (χ2=0.43), Types of family (χ2=2.88), and areas of residence (χ2=1.79) is not significant at 0.05 level of significance. Hence hypothesis H₂ is rejected and null hypothesis H₀₂is accepted.

There is a significant association between knowledge of nursing students such as any history of needle stick injury (χ2=7.80), any history of prophylaxis of HIV/AIDS infection (χ2 8.54), occupation of parents (χ2 9.6) and any history of exposure to HIV/AIDS infection (χ2= 18.42), at 0.05 level of significance. Hence hypothesis H₂ is accepted and null hypothesis H₀₂ is rejected. There is no significant association between the perceived threat of nursing students

of a regimen for post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection, 37 thought they were at risk of blood borne viral infection and had contacted the occupational health department for advice. The study concluded that there is a need for educational initiatives for new and existing staff.[10].   

Kumakech E, Achoras, et al, conducted a longitudinal study on Post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV transmission among health care workers in the UK. The study revealed that out of 203 Occupational injuries, the majority were with needle stick injuries (76.3%). Among this half of the clients were in a training period. It is also reported that many nurses and clinical officers were not fully vaccinated for Hepatitis B.PEP.[11].   

Sharma R. et al Jan, Studied the Occupational Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids among Health Care Workers was conducted in a Teaching Hospital of Mumbai, India. Using random sampling technique residents, interns, nurses and technicians (n = 830) were selected. The results revealed that occupational exposure to blood and body fluids was highest among the nurses, needle-stick injury was the most common mode of exposure (92.21%). The Index finger and thumb were the commonest sites of exposure. Only 50% of the affected individuals reported the occurrence to concerned hospital authorities. Less than a quarter of the exposed persons underwent post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against HIV, although the same was indicated in about 50% of the affected health care workers.[12].   

Dixit S et al, Conducted a study to assess the knowledge regarding HIV, occupational exposure and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) among nursing students in Tertiary Care Hospital at Indore. For the study 50 final year, nursing students were included. The results revealed that Knowledge regarding the risk of transmission of HIV by needle-stick injury and body fluids against which universal precautions were increased after structured teaching programme from 36% to 72% which was statistically significant. The study concluded that a structured teaching programme was effective in improving knowledge among nursing students [13]. Trim JC, et al conducted a study to evaluate the level of knowledge among 200 nurses regarding the occupational risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens.  The researcher found that the nurses had inadequate knowledge of inoculation

with the finger-prick method. The questionnaire was distributed through an online survey monkey link. The study population included students in a dental college. The study result was it is essential to be aware of anxiety and anxiety disorders not only related to finger pricking but anxiety in general.  according to this study, when asked the study population about which emotion they experience when pricking themselves, 2.70% answered that they feel excited, 64.86% answered that they were nervous and 32.43% upright answered that they were anxious. When asked if they felt anxious at the thought of pricking themselves, 81.08% answered positively.  Majority of the study population that is 81.08% answered positively when asked if they were scared of the pain that would be caused due to the finger prick.[17].

Wang, C., et al Conducted a study to assess “Relations between psychosocial working conditions, stress perception, and needle-stick injury among healthcare workers” A total of 1956 valid samples were collected from eight teaching hospitals Most of the correlation coefficients between psychosocial conditions at work, stress perception, and needle-stick injury are of statistical significance ranging from 0.004 to 0.869. Results of the internal consistency test show that Cronbach’s α is between 0.770 and 0.925. All three models for effect analysis demonstrated satisfactory global goodness and acceptable path loadings. Psychosocial working conditions and stress perception were directly associated with events of needle-stick injury, like 0.39 (95%CI: 0.32 to 0.48) and 0.32 (95%CI: 0.22 to 0.39), respectively. Furthermore, stress perception had been proved to have a mediating effect (0.25, 95%CI: 0.19 to 0.31) between psychosocial working conditions and needle-stick injury, which occupied over one-third of the total effect.[18].   

Mr Amar C.et al The study was undertaken to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge regarding Coping Strategies of examination anxiety among tenth standard students in selected schools, Delhi A one group pre-test – post-test pre-experimental research design was adopted. The study was conducted among 60 students studying the tenth standard by purposive sampling in the selected schools. The study result was The overall mean post-test knowledge score of tenth class students was found to be 67.83% as compared

found between work experience and needle-stick stress (P =0.67, r = -0.75). Also, the overtime did not affect stress score (P = 0.39). Stress from sharp instruments exposure before the intervention was 64.96 ± 15.6 and mean stress after training was 43.91 ± 10.7 and paired t-test (P < 0.001) indicated that the stress was significantly reduced. In each of the areas, stress was assessed before and after training. In the first part which included Safety Policy, the nurses' pre-education stress was 60.00 ± 17.4 and after training was 38.84 ± 12.2 (P > 0.001), which shows a significant decrease. The second part was Occupational Safety which was 72.34 ± 23.2 before intervention and 45.94 ± 14.9 after training (P < 0.001). In the third part, the level of stress among the nurses was assessed. Results showed a mean of 60.80 ± 14.0 before the intervention and 40.91 ± 12.8 after the intervention [22].   

Gurabhacharya DL et al, A study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on needle stick injuries among 70 nurses and paramedical staff from different departments of Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital. A 15-item questionnaire was administered for analysis. Results revealed that 4% and 61% of healthcare workers, respectively, were unaware of the fact that hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be transmitted by needle stick injuries. 74% had a history of needle stick injuries and only 21% reported the injuries. Only 23% were in the habit of using gloves for phlebotomy procedures all the time.79% were of the impression that the needle should be recapped after use. Only 66% were aware of universal precaution guidelines. The study concluded that knowledge of health care workers about the risk associated with needle stick injuries and the use of preventive measures is inadequate [23].