HIV/AIDS : Related Knowledge and Sexual Behaviour among Secondary School Students in Benin City

RESUMO

Purpose: The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst African youths has been a major problem in recent times; particularly in Nigeria where over 5of the population is at risk of the disease. We undertook to assess HIV/AIDS related knowledge and sexual behaviour among secondary school students in Benin City. Methods: In a cross-sectional study using a 59-item self-administered questionnaire; a survey was carried out among 1917 students (48.7male and 51.3female; age 11-24 years) systematically selected from 13 secondary schools in Benin City to assess HIV/AIDS related knowledge and sexual behaviour. Results: Awareness of HIV/AIDS was high. Misconceptions about the cause and spread was very high (91.4and 93.1of respondents; respectively). The knowledge on prevention was poor as only 40.4of the respondents knew how to avoid contacting HIV/AIDS. While 9.1of the students indicated ever having sex (with 67.4of them using condom before sex); only 2.4engaged in commercial sex. Some of the males (4.2) are homosexuals. As many as 5.8of the youths (and 12.4of those who had done HIV test in the preceding 12 months) were HIV positive. Conclusion: Despite the various educational efforts to address the problems of HIV/AIDS; the knowledge of secondary school students in Benin City is still poor and the adolescents still engage in risky behavours. This calls for educational intervention that will impact in-depth knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the youths who are at the center of HIV/AIDS pandemic