Knowledge and attitudes of students towards HIV/AIDS in selected secondary schools in central Uganda
View/ Open
Date
2019-10Author
Walusimbi, Experito
Kanyomoza, Isaac
Katongole, John Mugabi
Sebaggala, Nathan
Lemegio, Twizikye
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The study aimed at identifying students’ knowledge and attitudes towards
HIV/AIDS in selected secondary schools in central Uganda.The study was
conductedinfourschoolsinwhich240studentsparticipated,senior two and
senior three classes from each school.From eachclass60studentswere
selected randomly. Data was collected using questionnaires and was analysed in
Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that the
secondary school students had more knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention,
cure,types and treatment.About two hundred fifteen students were aware of the
ways in which HIV/AIDS is transmitted,one hundred sixty two students were
aware of the HIV/AIDS treatment and that there was no cure and (53.4%)
students knew that HIV types were not three.The findings also showed that
lowest awareness level were in areas of;history,signs and symptoms of
HIV/AIDS. A large number of secondary school students (39.6%) were uncertain
of where HIV/AIDS first occurred in Uganda. Almost the same number of student
(43.3%)was in decisive about the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS during the
window period.
The findings revealed both positive and negative attitudes of secondary school
students towards HIV/AIDS.About two hundred students were willing to share
their reading materials and join discussion groups with a HIV infected student,
(65%) students were free with HIV infected teacher continuing to teach in
secondary school. (49.6%)students would tell any one about the results of their
HIV test results and few students (25%) were in decisive on whether to share or
not to share their results of HIV test with any one and (68.3%) students disagreed
with isolation of AIDS patients for the safety of others.
The findings revealed that there was a weak, negative correlation between
students’ knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS, which was statistically
significant (rs (240)= -0.148, p=0.002).
It was recommended that; both the government and schools should increase
funding of HIV/AIDS awareness programs concerning the prevention of
HIV/AIDS to increase the students’ knowledge of prevention of HIV/AIDS.