ABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Attitude , Students , Unsafe SexABSTRACT
The academic curriculum of the University of Benin includes some compulsory courses for all students in the first year of admission. These courses, referred to as general studies, cover some aspects of English language, Nigerian history and culture, humanities, science and technology. Since the introduction in 1975 of this programme in the university various views have been expressed on the necessity, effectiveness, suitability, relevance and reaction of students to the programme. This investigation was therefore carried out to find out the views of the medical students about the programme. The results show that our medical students regard the programme as useful, effective and relevant to their medical education and should be continued. They also suggested some modifications and improvement in some aspects of the programme.
