A survey of knowledge; attitudes; behaviour and practises about HIV/AIDS among high school students in selected schools in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

Following various educational strategies by governmental and non-governmental organizations to educate youths and school teachers about HIV infection and prevention; this KABP survey was one attempt to evaluate the impact. The study sample of 478 high school students; Forms 1 through 6; was drawn from four randomly selected schools in Mashonaland and Matebeleland including high and low density government and mission co-educational schools. The sample was randomly selected and stratified to represent sex and grade level. A 31 - item self adminstered modified WHO questionnaire designed to determin the knowledge; attitudes;behaviour practices and sources of information in relation to HIV/AIDS was used. The findings reveal that generally; respondents demonstrated a 50 to 80 accuracy of factual knowledge. Of the 66 Forms 1 through to VI pupils who dated; 30 preferred only sexually involved relationships; and a small number considered the possibility of HIV/AIDS infection. Newspapers; television; radio and magazines were the most frequently cited sources of first infomation. Classmates were cited by 20 to over 30 of the respondents as first source of information while authority figures like health workers; parents; teachers and the church did not emerge as significant sources of first information. Sources of first information were related to age; Form Level; sex and school location. There were also notable differencies between boarders and day scholars. [abstract terminated]