The Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Senior Secondary School Students in a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The level of accurate knowledge adolescents have about HIV/AIDS, is important to enhance effective preventive actions, which ultimately result in a decrease in the incidence of the disease among adolescents. This study assessed the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the first source of the information on HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) among senior secondary school students in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done in 2010, using self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires administered to senior secondary school students in ten mixed senior secondary schools selected from each of the ten wards in the LGA using multistage sampling technique.

Results: A total of 383 questionnaires were administered and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 15.6+1.5years. The level of awareness about HIV/AIDS was high 307(80.2%). Overall the respondents had poor level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS was associated with class of respondents (p=0.003) but not with sex of respondents (p=0.079). Parents were first source of information about HCT to 182(47.5%) respondents.

Conclusion: The level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school students in Ikpoba Okha LGA was poor. Parents were mainly the first source of information on HCT for the respondents. There is need for more research to update knowledge and information on adolescent health issues and services related to HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, secondary school adolescents, Nigeria