RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Adolescents have a tendency to engage in high risk sexual and drug-use behaviour; and with a poor health-seeking behaviour; they continue to present the highest number of new cases of HIV reported in Africa.OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge; attitude and practise of adolescent secondary school students towards AIDS.METHOD: A cross sectional study was carried out on 358 senior secondary students selected by multistage sampling. A researcher administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection.RESULTS: All had heard of AIDS; of which 40cited the media as source of information. Seventy four percent knew the cause to be a virus; 63could differentiate between AIDS and HIV; over 85knew of transmission through sex; mother to child; contaminated blood; and contaminated needles; 59cited kissing. Weight loss was the most common symptom (85) mentioned. Over 76knew AIDS to be untreatable. Over 75knew methods to prevent spread of which 23cited sex with a virgin; 61did not know anyone infected with the virus; 58felt infected persons should not be allowed to stay in the community; 61agreed to continue a relationship with an infected friend; 83agreed to care for an infected relative. Of 22who agreed they were sexually active; 66and 12had one and multiple partners respectively. Regarding protection; 30used condom always; 48sometimes and 23never. Twenty-one percent had ever had sex under influence of alcohol or marijuana. 55were willing to be tested; however none had been tested.CONCLUSION: Senior secondary school students in Uvwie have a fairly good knowledge of AIDS; and poor attitude towards people living with AIDS. Few are sexually active and are engaged in unsafe sex