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HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs

Received: 30 December 2014    Accepted: 4 January 2015    Published: 19 January 2015
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Abstract

Background: The magnitude of the HIV epidemic and the prevailing lack of sexual health interventions targeting young people in sub-Saharan Africa calls for a wider awareness and strategic approach-based advocacy. Although adolescents are pivotal to manpower development and technological advancement in Nigeria, HIV epidemic is on the increase among this vulnerable group due to lack of sexuality education and rightful intervention programs. Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the level of awareness, knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Atisbo Local Government Area, Nigeria. Methods: Two-stage clustered sampling method was deployed to recruit participants into the study. Instrument: A pilot-tested questionnaire developed from review of literatures was administered on 343 participants upon their consent. Result: The Mean age of the participants was 16 ±2 years and nearly two-third (209, 63.0%) of them were females. The study discovered that half of the participants (165, 50.9%) live with both parents and a little more than one-third (113, 34.5%) belong to well-educated parents. Most participants (296, 91.9%) were quite awareof HIV/AIDS and about a quarter (79, 24.2%) of them have had sexual encounter. A greater portion of them (213, 64.9%) discuss sexual matters with their parents and the majority (205, 63.9%) would care for their HIV/AIDS positive relatives. Overall, father’s education, discussion of sexual matters with parents and age were all associated with participants’ awareness and behaviour toward sex and sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The surveyed secondary school students possess relatively good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, reasonable sexual practices and positive attitude towards sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Social settings and parental sexuality communication as a result of educational attainment, played significant roles in the attitude of their children. Efforts should be intensified to provide more comprehensive information on sexuality and HIV/AIDS through the mass media. This possibly will improve students’ attitudes toward abstinence, safer sex and behaviour toward people already infected with HIV/AIDS.

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 3, Issue 1-1)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Information Technology in Developing Nations: Challenges and Prospects Health Information Technology

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19
Page(s) 61-67
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adolescent, Awareness, Attitude, Comprehensive Knowledge, Health Information, HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Medical Confidentiality, Nigeria

References
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[3] V. A. Paul-Ebhohimhen, A. Poobalam, E. R. vanTeijlingen. A systematic review of school-based sexual health internvention to prevent STI/HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health. 2008; 8:4.
[4] National Agency for the Control of AIDS. Key statistics on HIV in Nigeria. Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. Available at: www.naca.gov.ng/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=docview&gid=110&itemd=268. Accessed on: December 25, 2013.
[5] UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). WHO’s work in reproductive health: the role of the special programme. Progress in Human Reproductive Research. 1997: 42.
[6] US Department of Health & Human Services. HIV/AIDS awareness days. Available at: www.aids.gov/news-and-events/awarenss-days/.
[7] J. Keating, D. Meekers, A. Adewuyi. Assessing effects of a media campaign on HIV/AIDS awaress and prevention on Nigeria: results from the VISION project. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6: 123. doi: 10.1186/1471.2458-6-123.
[8] N. Appiah-Agyekum, R. H. Suapim. Knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among high school girls in Ghana. HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2013; 5: 137–144.
[9] F. N. Samkange-Zeeb, L. Spallek, H. Zeeb. Awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among school-going adolescents in Europe: a systematic review of published literature. BMC Public Health. 2011; 11: 727.
[10] J. T. Ongwara, O. Odenyo. Level of knowledge on risks to HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in the Kisumu District.Retrovirology. 2012; 9:125.
[11] L. Oljira, Y. Berhane, A. Worku. Assessment of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge level among in-school adolescents in eastern Ethiopia. J Int AIDS Soc. 2013;16(1):17349.
[12] S. Bastein, L. J. Kajula, W. W. Muhwezi. A review of studies of parents-child communication about sexuality and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive Health. 2011; 8:25. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-8-25.
[13] Z. T. Dimbuene, B. K. Defo. Fostering accurate HIV/AIDS knowledge among unmarried youths in Cameroon: Do family environment and peers matter? BMC Public Health. 2011; 11: 348.
[14] R. M. Shrestha, K. Otsuka, K. C. Poudel, J. Yasuoka, M. Lamischhane, M. Jimba. Better learning in schools to improve attitudes toward abstinence and intentions for safer sex among adolescents in urban Nepal. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13: 244.
[15] S. Ray, T. Gosh, P. C. Modal, et al. Knowledge and information on psychological, physiological and gynaecological problems among adolescent schoolgirls of Eastern India.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2011 November; 21(3): 183–189.
[16] K. D. Mwambete, Z. Mtaturu. Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Afr Health Sci. 2006; 6(3): 165–169.
[17] G. M. Kassie, D. H. Mariam, A. O. Tsui. Patterns of knowledge and condom use among population groups: results from the 2005 Ethiopian behavioral surveillance surveys on HIV. BMC Public Health. 2008; 8: 429.
[18] S. Adu-Mireku. Family communication about HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour among senior secondary school students in Accra, Ghana. Afr Health Sci. 2003; 3(1): -14.
[19] I. Shrier, S. Green, J. Solin, et al.Knowledge of and attitude toward patient confidentiality within three family medicine teaching units.Academic Medicine1998; 73(6): 710-712.
[20] I. T. Adeleke,A. O. Adekanye, S. A. Adefemi, et al.Knowledge, attitudes and practice of confidentialityof patients’ health records amonghealthcare professionals at Federal Medical Centre, Bida. Niger JMed. 2011;20(2): 228-235.
[21] J. T. F. Lau, H. Y. Tsui. Discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and associated factors: a population based study in the Chinese general population. Sex Transm Infect 2005;81:113–119.doi: 10.1136/sti.2004.011767.
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    Ibrahim Taiwo Adeleke, Bilkisu Abidemi Azeez, Danjuma Aliyu, Lateef Mosebolatan Ogundiran, Abdulkarim Salami, et al. (2015). HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs. American Journal of Health Research, 3(1-1), 61-67. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19

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    ACS Style

    Ibrahim Taiwo Adeleke; Bilkisu Abidemi Azeez; Danjuma Aliyu; Lateef Mosebolatan Ogundiran; Abdulkarim Salami, et al. HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs. Am. J. Health Res. 2015, 3(1-1), 61-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19

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    AMA Style

    Ibrahim Taiwo Adeleke, Bilkisu Abidemi Azeez, Danjuma Aliyu, Lateef Mosebolatan Ogundiran, Abdulkarim Salami, et al. HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs. Am J Health Res. 2015;3(1-1):61-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19,
      author = {Ibrahim Taiwo Adeleke and Bilkisu Abidemi Azeez and Danjuma Aliyu and Lateef Mosebolatan Ogundiran and Abdulkarim Salami and Wasiu Adeyemi Adeoye},
      title = {HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1-1},
      pages = {61-67},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19},
      abstract = {Background: The magnitude of the HIV epidemic and the prevailing lack of sexual health interventions targeting young people in sub-Saharan Africa calls for a wider awareness and strategic approach-based advocacy. Although adolescents are pivotal to manpower development and technological advancement in Nigeria, HIV epidemic is on the increase among this vulnerable group due to lack of sexuality education and rightful intervention programs. Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the level of awareness, knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Atisbo Local Government Area, Nigeria. Methods: Two-stage clustered sampling method was deployed to recruit participants into the study. Instrument: A pilot-tested questionnaire developed from review of literatures was administered on 343 participants upon their consent. Result: The Mean age of the participants was 16 ±2 years and nearly two-third (209, 63.0%) of them were females. The study discovered that half of the participants (165, 50.9%) live with both parents and a little more than one-third (113, 34.5%) belong to well-educated parents. Most participants (296, 91.9%) were quite awareof HIV/AIDS and about a quarter (79, 24.2%) of them have had sexual encounter. A greater portion of them (213, 64.9%) discuss sexual matters with their parents and the majority (205, 63.9%) would care for their HIV/AIDS positive relatives. Overall, father’s education, discussion of sexual matters with parents and age were all associated with participants’ awareness and behaviour toward sex and sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The surveyed secondary school students possess relatively good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, reasonable sexual practices and positive attitude towards sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Social settings and parental sexuality communication as a result of educational attainment, played significant roles in the attitude of their children. Efforts should be intensified to provide more comprehensive information on sexuality and HIV/AIDS through the mass media. This possibly will improve students’ attitudes toward abstinence, safer sex and behaviour toward people already infected with HIV/AIDS.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - HIV/AIDS Awareness among Secondary Schools’ Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria: A Correlate to Strengthen Advocacy and Strategic Sexuality Education Programs
    AU  - Ibrahim Taiwo Adeleke
    AU  - Bilkisu Abidemi Azeez
    AU  - Danjuma Aliyu
    AU  - Lateef Mosebolatan Ogundiran
    AU  - Abdulkarim Salami
    AU  - Wasiu Adeyemi Adeoye
    Y1  - 2015/01/19
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19
    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
    SP  - 61
    EP  - 67
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.s.2015030101.19
    AB  - Background: The magnitude of the HIV epidemic and the prevailing lack of sexual health interventions targeting young people in sub-Saharan Africa calls for a wider awareness and strategic approach-based advocacy. Although adolescents are pivotal to manpower development and technological advancement in Nigeria, HIV epidemic is on the increase among this vulnerable group due to lack of sexuality education and rightful intervention programs. Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the level of awareness, knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Atisbo Local Government Area, Nigeria. Methods: Two-stage clustered sampling method was deployed to recruit participants into the study. Instrument: A pilot-tested questionnaire developed from review of literatures was administered on 343 participants upon their consent. Result: The Mean age of the participants was 16 ±2 years and nearly two-third (209, 63.0%) of them were females. The study discovered that half of the participants (165, 50.9%) live with both parents and a little more than one-third (113, 34.5%) belong to well-educated parents. Most participants (296, 91.9%) were quite awareof HIV/AIDS and about a quarter (79, 24.2%) of them have had sexual encounter. A greater portion of them (213, 64.9%) discuss sexual matters with their parents and the majority (205, 63.9%) would care for their HIV/AIDS positive relatives. Overall, father’s education, discussion of sexual matters with parents and age were all associated with participants’ awareness and behaviour toward sex and sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The surveyed secondary school students possess relatively good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, reasonable sexual practices and positive attitude towards sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS. Social settings and parental sexuality communication as a result of educational attainment, played significant roles in the attitude of their children. Efforts should be intensified to provide more comprehensive information on sexuality and HIV/AIDS through the mass media. This possibly will improve students’ attitudes toward abstinence, safer sex and behaviour toward people already infected with HIV/AIDS.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 1-1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Health Information, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Nigeria

  • Monitoring & Evaluation Unit, Primary Healthcare Department, Atisbo Local Government Area, Tede, Nigeria

  • Department of Nursing Services, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

  • Department of Health Information, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Nigeria

  • Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Nigeria

  • Department of Health Records, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

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