HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitudes, and Opinions Among Adolescents In The River States of Nigeria

摘要

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic (Taylor et al., 2003; UNAIDS/UNICEF/WHO, 2000; Eaton, Flishera and Arob, 2002; Prat, et al., 2000). Nigeria is one of the most afflicted sub-Saharan nations (UNAIDS, 2002). Rivers State, a major industrial area of Nigeria and the nerve center of the oil industry, represents a cross-section of Nigeria. The median sero-prevalence of HIV in the state has been estimated at 8 percent (Rivers State HIV/AIDS Control Program, 2002). The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and opinions among young people in the state. A 28 item, English-language questionnaire was pilot-tested and administered to secondary school students in the state. There were fairly equal numbers of male and female respondents with a median age of 19. Although 93 percent of respondents had heard of HIV/AIDS, it did not appear to improve their knowledge and perceptions about the disease. One-third to one-half of respondents believe that a person can get infected with HIV through mosquito bites; believe that an infected teacher or student should not be allowed to continue teaching or attending school and have not talked about HIV/AIDS with their boy friend or girl friend or their parents. About 60 percent of respondents admitted that none or few of their friends used condoms in sexual encounters. The results of the study are consistent with similar studies in sub-Saharan Africa (Eaton, et al., 2002; Volk and Koopman, 2001; Adih and Alexander, 1999). Several sociocultural and religious constraints are inferred. Among other strategies, the need for sustained culturally sensitive educational intervention to decrease the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the region is stressed.