Olunloyo AO; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. D11433.
Youth-to-Youth Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
The ABC method (abstinence, being faithful and condom) is a popular strategy that is promoted for people to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. In Nigeria, a larger percentage of those infected with the virus are young people aged 15-29. The purpose of the study was to find out the attitude of university of lagos students towards HIV/AIDS prevention methods. It particularly found out how effective the ABC method was amongst the students. The study used the survey research method to obtain data with a sample size of 200 respondents from eight faculties within university of lagos, Nigeria. The study revealed that majority of the students are aware of HIV/AIDS and also about the ABC method. However, the students are not practising the method effectively. The survey showed that 37% of the respondents are practising abstinence, 57% of them are sexually active; 35% make use of the condom while 22% are practising mutual fidelity (faithfulness to one partner). Aside from the 37% of the respondents who are practisi ng abstinence, 57% of those that are sexually active are still at risk. Majority of those practising mutual fidelity do not know their personal or partner's HIV status (whether or not they are positive). For those using the condom, only 69% use it everytime, the others only use it occassionally or when they feel like it. This findings signifies that the students are still exposed to risky practises that enhance the spread of HIV. This corroborates the claim that knowledge alone does not ensure that young people will change to safer behaviour. Theres's a difference between knowledge and action based on that knowledge. Majority of the students have been exposed to information on HIV/AIDS. 99% said they have heard about the virus while 91% have heard about the ABC method of preventing the virus. The main sources of information to the respondents were the television, friends, and radio which confirms that the appeal of the mass media to young people provides an ideal vehicle for increasing knowledge of young people on HIV/AIDS. Essentially, communication is known to inform, persuade and create awareness but other factors must act along communication to bring about behaviour change. The role of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign cannot be underscored but when it comes to attitudes and behaviour change, it will take a range of other factors or designed activity or circumstances to determine whether or not people will engage in risky behaviour. University campuses should establish Youth friendly centres that are staffed with competent personnel such as trained peer educators and counsellors and medical staffs to provide sexual and reproductive health services to meet the needs of the youth.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Biomedical Research
- Coitus
- Condoms
- Data Collection
- Government Agencies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Education
- Humans
- Nigeria
- Questionnaires
- Students
- Universities
- education
- methods
Other ID:
UI: 102278001
From Meeting Abstracts