The influence of knowledge about HIV/AIDS on the sexual behavior of students at school 'A' in Mpigi District

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of knowledge about HIV/AID on the sexual behavior of students at school ‘A’ in Mpigi district. A survey was adopted and primary data was collected from 225 respondents from students of S.1, S.2, S.3, S.4, S.5 and S.6 using a questionnaire approach designed in a google form. Simple random sampling was used. Data cleaning and analysis was done using SPSS software. Univariate analysis was used to obtain proportions and cross-tabulation using chi-square was used to investigate the influence of socialdemographic factors and knowledge towards the HIV/AIDS prevention measures. The findings indicated that (51.56%) of the respondents were male compared to (48.44%) who were female and of them (16%) were in S.6, S.5 (15.56%), S.4 and S.2 (13.33%) and S.3 (10.22%). It also reviles that all respondents (100%) had information on HIV/AIDS, only (17.33%) preferred the use of condoms and the majority (82.67%) preferred abstaining from sex. The study further revealed that only having information and attending a study about HIV/AIDS significantly affected the most appropriate HIV prevention measures since their p-value was less than 0.05 and the rest of the variables had no significant effect on the most appropriate HIV prevention measures since their p-values are greater than 0.05. The study recommended further research in various schools in Uganda to assess the influence of knowledge about HIV/AID on the sexual behavior of students in the entire country and the measures students use so as they don’t become victims of HIV/AIDS spread. In addition, the study recommended further research to find out the HIV status of the students and staff in schools so as to develop appropriate measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in schools. Finally, this study recommended that research should also be carried out to measure the success of various interventions, and policies that have been implemented by the government to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS such as testing, counselling and condom distribution.