Perception of Risk and Action Taken to Avoid HIV/AIDS Infection among Students in a High-Risk State

Abstract

The paper presents the findings of an investigation into adolescents' sexual behaviour and action taken to avoid infection among JSS students of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State-the state with the highest HIV infection rate in Nigeria. Several types of questionnaire were deployed to collect the data. The questions have a high reliability because they have been used in studies on school children in Uganda. Responses to the survey questions were coded for computer analysis frequencies. Two-way table methods including chi-square test for independence were used to determine if there was a significant difference between those who reported that they have not had sex and those who reported that they had sex. The difference was significant (p<0.05). There was also quite a statistically significant difference between those who had taken actions and those who had not (p<. 001). There was a very strong indication that increasing knowledge results in safer behaviour (p<.029). In the light of the findings, recommendations were made to remedy the situation and implications for further research were generated.



IFE Psychologia (2003) 11(2), 19-33