High Level Knowledge Of Hiv Aids Prevention example essay topic

Young people have been affected greatly by HIV / AIDS. Sentinel surveillance data indicates that HIV infection begins to increase in the 15-24 years age group (MOH, 2005). Young people in Uganda experience increased vulnerability to HIV infection due to the many of them who start engaging in sex at an early age (16.6 years for girls and 17.4 years for boys) (U BOS and Macro 2001). Most of the sexual encounters result from peer pressure to attain status, favours and money and accompanied with inconsistent and incorrect condom use. About half of the 6,000 new infections each day occur among young people. It is estimated that about half of all people who have had HIV were infected when they were between the ages of 15 and 24 years, and nearly one third of those currently living with HIV / AIDS are between 15 and 24 years.

If current trends continue, it is expected that the number of young people infected with HIV could increase to 21.5 million by 2010. (UNFPA, 2004). Adolescents can easily be reached through schools at a low cost. From an adolescent perspective, schools afford anonymity with a relative freedom from in habitations in the home and community. In addition, schools allow for discussion among fellow students with associated benefit from peer pressure. Schools also allow for the involvement of teachers, nurses and counselors in a systematic way.

Additionally, in Uganda, an increasing number of adolescents are entering school and schools are increasing number. Uganda had 10,500 primary schools and 625 secondary schools (Ministry of Education and Sports 1999). But by 2001, these numbers had grown to 12,280 primary schools and 1,850 secondary Schools... (Ministry of Education and Sports 2001) Despite high drop-out rates, an increasing number of students are continuing their education as a result of several recent initiatives taken by the Government of Uganda, such as, free schooling up to primary seven for both girls and boys, which has in turn resulted in a high number enrolling for secondary education. This has seen school enrollment increase from 2 million students in 1996 to over 6 millions pupils by 2001. (Ministry of Education and Sports 2001) However, in spite of the programs to support these students many reproductive health problems such as early sexual involvement, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse which are related to HIV infection are still persistent.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to generate data to facilitate the planning process for reproductive health programs in secondary schools to address reproductive health needs of adolescents so as to meet their service delivery needs. 1.5 Study objectives: 1.5. 1 General objective To determine the knowledge, perceptions and risky behaviors among secondary school students to HIV / AIDS in central Uganda. 1.5. 2 Specific Objectives: The specific objectives of this study include the following: 1 To assess the magnitude of knowledge, perceptions and risky behaviour's of secondary school students in different school categories of central Uganda. 2 To evaluate the effect of the different knowledge and perceptions on various risky behaviour's. 3 To examine the influence of knowledge on risky behaviour's among secondary school students who are sexually active. 1.5.

3 Hypotheses: 1. High level knowledge of HIV / AIDS prevention does not encourage condom use. 2. Knowledge of HIV / AIDS prevention does not discourage drugs and alcohol abuse 3. Awareness of HIV / AIDS prevention measures does not reduce involvement in sexual intercourse. 4.

Sex of students does not influence involvement in sexual intercourse. 5. Higher level / class of attendance of respondents at school does not lead to higher knowledge of HIV / AIDS. 6. There is no association between risk perception and safe sex practice. 1.6 Significance of the study Although the need for school HIV / AIDS programs is acknowledged, the existing programs are generally inadequate because of lack of evidence / research based planning.

The study will be among the very few that provide information on the levels of knowledge, perceptions and risky behaviour's of secondary school students to HIV / AIDS in central Uganda. This will help stakeholders and planners in designing evidence based interventions for the youths. The gaps that will be identified by the study will call for attention especially in terms of addressing risky behaviour's to help avert and reduce spread of HIV / AIDS among secondary school students. The data obtained from this study will be analysed to produce bench mark indicators for monitoring impact of future HIV / AIDS programs in secondary schools, and contribute to knowledge. 1.7 Operational definitions of the indicators and descriptions of terms In relation to this specific study the following are the operational definitions: 1.7. 1 Knowledge about prevention of HIV Knowledge will particularly refer to: (a) Percentage of Secondary school students who know at least two symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, (b) Percentage of Secondary school students who know at least two benefits of VCT, (c) Percentage of Secondary school students who know a youth friendly service provision center in area of permanent residence.

This is mainly because most studies have concentrated on studying the knowledge of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use (ABC) 1.7. 2 Risky behaviour's Risky behaviors refer to practices that increase the probability of an individual to get HIV. The risky behaviour's for this study will include sexual involvement and non condom use by those that are sexually active.