Jinabhai CC, Taylor M, Dlamini SB, Nyawo N, de Vries H, Sullivan K; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. TuPeC4812.

University of Natal, Durban, South Africa

Background: Encouraging sexually active people to undergo HIV testing aims to raise awareness and through behaviour change reduce the spread of infection. This study investigated whether high school students have been tested for HIV and their perceptions about HIV/AIDS and HIV testing. Methods: A cross sectional study included all secondary/high schools in Ugu North District, a randomly selected grade 10 class and all students in the class. Students completed a self-reported structured questionnaire. Results: Of 1411 students at 28 schools, mean age 17.03 years (SD 1.75), 47% male, 53% female, 23.8% reported knowing someone with HIV/AIDS and 80.7% recognised HIV/AIDS as a serious problem. Only 5.4% had been tested for HIV although 31.0% knew someone who had been tested. Of the students 31.1% had ever had sex. A fifth of the total sample (20.9%) considered themselves to be personally at risk of HIV infection, but 51.1% believed that they needed to change their behaviour to avoid getting HIV/AIDS. The majo rity of students (74.7%) understood that if tested they would know whether HIV infected; 71.1% if HIV positive would use condoms to protect partners. For a male HIV positive friend, 20.7% would not wish to continue the friendship, with 21.0% unsure. For a female friend, percentages were 21.5% and 19.0%. If HIV positive, 60.5% students would inform their partner, 67.9% their mother, but less than half (48.4%) would inform friends and 18.8% would not tell anyone. If HIV positive 27.8% students did not want to know; 53.4% expected assistance from family, and 40.9% from friends. Students (44.1%) knew to go to the clinic/hospital to be tested and 49.4% intended testing for HIV. Conclusion In rural areas testing to determine HIV status is still uncommon. Life skills and health education should include information and discussion about HIV testing in order to change student perceptions, and to contribute to reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Data Collection
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Education
• Male
• Questionnaires
• Research Design
• Rural Population
• Schools
• South Africa
• Students

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0038412

UI: 102282628

From Meeting Abstracts