Gender differences in adolescent students' knowledge, attitudes and practices on HIV/AIDS in Ghana

Abstract

The study examined gender differences in adolescent students' knowledge, attitudes and practices on HIV/AIDS in Ghana. Participants consisted of 216 males and 190 females (N= 406) randomly selected from eight urban public co-educational senior secondary schools. A survey instrument with a reliability co-efficient of r = 0.87 was used in the data collection. The data was analyzed with mean, percentages and Pearson chi-square using SPSS version 10.0. Results revealed that although there is high level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS among students, some level of knowledge deficiencies on HIV/AIDS exist among them. Male students reported higher level of HIV/AIDS knowledge than their female counterparts did. Television emerged as the most prominent source of information for both male and female students. Gender did not predict differences in adolescents' attitude and practices on HIV/AIDS although female students showed greater inclination to discriminate against PLWHAs. Implications of the findings for HIV/AIDS counselling and prevention including the need to intensify HIV/AIDS education, use the TV extensively and to fight discrimination against PLWHAs are discussed.

Gender and Behaviour Vol. 4(1) 2006: 568-588