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The copyright of a submitted article is only transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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HIV/AIDS: Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of School Adolescents In The Kwaebibirem District Of Ghana
Abstract
The study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices relating to HIV/AIDS among adolescents attending both categories of schools. Structured questionnaire was administered by a multistage sampling technique to 600 pupils and students, selected from six Junior Secondary Schools and three Senior Secondary Schools from different towns in the Kwaebibirem district in Ghana. A total of 531 (92.2%) agreed that sexual promiscuity is on the ascendancy among adolescents. The overall mean age of sexual activity debut among both boys and girls was 11.4 years. High -risk sexual behaviour increased with increasing age and class, and was significantly higher among females than males. Condom use was generally low among the sexually active adolescents. Generally
knowledge of STIs among the adolescents was low. Nearly half did not know the origin of HIV/ AIDS, but 83% knew sexual intercourse as the highest mode of transmission, whilst about 64% knew HIV/AIDS could be prevented through abstinence and condom use. It was concluded that sexual promiscuity is on the ascendancy among the adolescents, but their knowledge of STIs is generally low. More education is therefore needed to keep them well informed about HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: Kwaebibirem, Ghana, STIs, IV/AIDS, promiscuity
Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana) Vol. 28 (2) 2008: pp. 10-18
