The relationship between HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception among university students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception among university students. The study intended to achieve the following objectives. To find out the level of HIV knowledge of Makerere University students, to find out the HIV risk perceptions among Makerere University students, and to determine the relationship between HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception. The study used a correlational research design where 70 respondents were selected using simple random sampling. Data from the respondents were coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 23. Frequency tables were generated to further analyze the respondents' bio data and other information about the variables. Levels of HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception were analysed using frequencies and percentages while Pearson's product correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationship between HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception. The study has indicated that majority of students in Makerere university do have high levels of knowledge against HIV/AIDS. It has further shown that HIV risk perception among university low. Due to the findings of the study, it has been shown that there is a negative significant relationship between HIV knowledge and HIV risk perception which indicates that due to the high levels of knowledge students know how the disease is transmitted encourages them to engage in safer sex which has consequently led to their HIV risk perception levels to lower down.