Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Secondary School Teachers On Hiv/Aids: Implications For Sexuality Education

Abstract

This study examined the knowledge and practices of 209 public secondary school teachers in Onitsha metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria towards HIV/AIDS in order to assess their level of preparedness to deliver qualitative HIV/AIDS education within the context of a comprehensive sexuality education program. This has become necessary in view of the significant morbidity and mortality rates of HIV/AIDS among the Nigerian populace.
Our findings show that although 100% of the teachers have heard about HIV/AIDS, more than 30% of them did not know that a virus caused the disease. Nearly 10% of the teachers thought that the disease could be transmitted through handshakes, sharing cutlery and clothes. There were significant gender differences in the sexual behavior of the teachers as well as their comfort level to discuss issues surrounding sexuality and HIV/AIDS. Only 2.5% of the teachers had ever talked about HIV/AIDS during routine classes and less than 3% of the teachers had ever attended a formal workshop or seminar on HIV/AIDS.
In conclusion, this study highlights the poor state of preparedness of teachers in the public secondary school system in Onitsha metropolis to provide qualitative HIV/AIDS education within the context of the approved comprehensive sexuality education program in Nigeria and the absence of any capacity building programs in place to support them.


Keywords: Sexuality Education; HIV/AIDS, Teachers, Secondary Schools, Onitsha Metropolis.

Annals of Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 13-21