Adolescent Religiosity and Attitudes to HIV and AIDS in Ghana

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationships between adolescent religiosity and attitudes to HIV/AIDS based on two major techniques of analysis; factor and regression analysis towards informing preventive school education strategies. Using cross-sectional data of 448 adolescents in junior high school; the study incorporated survey in a self-administered questionnaire and sought to identify underlying factors that affect pupils' responses; delineate the pattern of relationships between variables and select models which best explain and predict relationships among variables. A seven-factor solution described the 'attitude' construct including abstinence and protection; and six for 'religiosity'. The results showed relatively high levels of religiosity and a preference for private religiosity as opposed to organisational religiosity. The regression analysis produced significant relationships between factors of attitudes to HIV/AIDS and of religiosity. Adolescent with very high private religiosity are more likely to abstain from sex but less likely to use condoms once they initiate protection is inversely related to religiosity. The findings suggest that religious-based adolescent interventions should focus on intrinsic religiosity. Additionally; increasing HIV prevention information and incorporating culturally relevant and socially acceptable values might lend support to improved adolescent school-based HIV/AIDS prevention programmes