142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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308128
Examining Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Practices Towards HIV/AIDS Among Senior Secondary School Students in Nigeria: A Public Health Analysis

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Rasheedat Ojikutu, BDS , Health Studies, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Monsurat Ojikutu, BDS, MPH , Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, AK
Yashika Watkins, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Studies, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Thomas Britt, MD, MPH , Department of Health Studies, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Damon Arnold, MD, MPH , Health Studies, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS is a major health problem globally. Nearly half of new HIV infections worldwide occur among young people aged 15-24 years old. This paper examines HIV/AIDS status among senior secondary school students, ranging in age between 15-18 years old, in Nigeria by assessing their level of knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices. Can addressing sexual behaviors in this group be a key factor in tackling this pandemic?

METHODS: A meta-analysis approach was employed using electronic databases, current journals, and bibliographies of relevant articles were gathered from 1980 to 2011. Ten sources were identified. Keywords used were HIV/AIDS, Nigeria, adolescence, attitudes, knowledge, sexual relations and intercourse, sexual behavior practices, condoms and health education.      

RESULTS: The findings indicate that the overall knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS is high, but the overall sexual behavior among them is unsafe. For example, only 47.2% used condoms during their last sexual intercourse. More concerning is that 54.0% of students in Nigeria felt HIV/AIDS was a problem, while 68.4% felt they were not at risk of being infected with the disease. Also 41% harbored a negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS, while 19% had no opinion.

CONCLUSION: Ensuring maximum success of educational interventions involves several stages that bring together public health professionals, educators, students, and the community to further explore the alarming rate of HIV/AIDS seropositivity within this population. It involves providing skills that help in empowering students to take responsibility and control of their actions. Based on the findings, appropriate health education intervention should be planned, updated and continuously implemented.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe a review of the literature pertaining to the level of knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices towards HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school students in Nigeria. Identify factors that influence student risk perceptions and behaviors regarding sexual practices, may assist in creating an educational intervention framework.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Behavioral Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the principal investigator on HIV/AIDS research projects in Nigeria.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3094.0: IH Poster Session 2: HIV/ AIDS