Attitude and perception towards people living with HIV/AIDS among school students in Ngara town.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the attitude and perception towards PLWHA among secondary school students in Ngara town.
Study design: A descriptive cross sectional study.
Study setting: The study was conducted in secondary schools in Ngara town.
Study population: Form one to four students aged between 14and 21 years.
Methodology: A descriptive cross section study which was carried out in secondary schools in Ngara District between August and September 2009. A total of 256 students were selected randomly from all secondary schools in Ngara town to participate in this study. Students were asked to sit in classrooms in which the researcher was introduced to them and explained the importance of the study and the confidentiality of the information they were supposed to give. Kiswahili version questionnaires were distributed to the selected participants to fill in the information they were asked. The information was entered into a computer and analysis was done using the computer software EPI info 2006.
Results: Out of 256 participants, 145(56.6%) were males and 111(43.4%) were females aged between 14 and 21 with mean age of 17 [table 1]. The majority of respondents 240(93.8%) were ready to care for PLWHA, the reasons being they wanted to support them [table2]. Among those who were not ready to care for PLWH, 6(37.5%) feared to be infected [table 3]. Vast majority of participants 196(76.6%) rejected to keep secret while 60(23.4%) would like to keep secret if a family member would be infected [table 4]. Majority 154(60.2%) were ready to disclose [fig.1]. Most of respondents 160(62.5%) wanted to live with PLWHA when asked on what to be done to PLWHA [fig.2]
Conclusion. The study found that there are still people who have negative perception and attitude towards PLWHA. However, the number of those with positive attitude and perception is increasing compared to the previous studies.

Key words: Attitude, perception, people living with HIV/AIDS