HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge and Sources of Information among Secondary School Students in Enugu Nigeria
The present study aimed to evaluate AIDs – related knowledge, and sources of information,
among secondary school students in Enugu, Nigeria. Anonymous structured interviews
were conducted with 1009 multi-stage sampled students aged 10-20 years.
Nine hundred of the students had heard about AIDS but only 725 knew that HIV causes AIDS.
Fifty percent could identify transmission modalities but only 36-50% could correctly identify actions
to avoid contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.
Students learned about HIV/AIDS from the society and TV-20%;
Radio-19%; Newspapers-13%, than schools and from home, while 33% believed AIDS was not real.
Seventy-nine percent and 46% of the respondents were afraid and have aversion for
People living with AIDS respectively.
Up to 27% of the respondents had had premarital sex while only 50% agreed
they could change their sexual practice on account of HIV/AIDS.
The respondents, those who had begun sexual activity started early and engaged in risky
sexual practices. Results from this study indicate that HIV/AIDs knowledge among
the respondents is inadequate, and that they want to learn more.
Appropriate and factual HIV/AIDS and sexuality information should be
provided in formal conducive setting in-schools to counteract wrong information,
misconceptions and sexual myths gained from uninformed general public and on occasions the media.
Since the first description of HIV and AIDS, there has been a relentless spread of the
disease to most countries of the world. The World Health Organization in April 1997
estimated that over 24 million people were infected with HIV.
Nine million are women and 1.5 are children. Eight-five percent of infected women and
children reside in sub Saharan Africa.
HIV/AIDS Res Treat Open J. 2015; 2(4): 97-104. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-2-117
