Knowledge And Attitude Of Students Towards HIV / AIDS

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

Background. Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) and acquire immune deficient syndrome (AIDS) continue to be the major concern not only to Niger state government but the federal government and the entire world. This study is poised to uncover the attitudes of students towards the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to ascertain the behaviour of youths towards the various merchandize employed to combat the menace of AIDS in Niger State. Methods. Systematic sampling technique was used to arrive at a sample of 100 respondents. Results. The study uncovered numerous issues related to the student’s knowledge and attitude towards HIV. It is quite evident that the knowledge of HIV has played significant role in student attitude towards sex. There are various ways of sexual abstinence among students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria with high prevalence rate of sexually transmitted infections (STDs), 16.3% and 23%, in the North and South respectively. There is need for change in the attitude of students and the society at large towards the issue of HIV/ AIDS. The result of this study may serve as a pioneer effort towards the understanding of HIV and AIDS among students of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

Sex is a basic physiological need of every human being, male and females are created with different class, to serve as a compliment for each other, this complementary role includes sex, therefore a man and a woman are expected to engage in sexual relationship. This sexual relationship has over the years been mixed by various infections known as the sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).

These STDs are in various forms and their effects are also different. One among such STDs is Human Immune Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/ AIDS). These two STDs are the most dangerous and ravaging of the STDs.

In 1981, HIV the virus of an illness (AIDS),was identified in Los Angeles, USA. In December of the same year, A similar virus was seen in Britain. By March 1987, nearly 6,000 cases were reported throughout Europe. It is one of the most serious health problems in the world today.

Though, the origin of HIV/ AIDS is said to be not in Africa, Africa has the highest number of casualties compared to other continents. Nigeria first witnessed the bitter taste of HIV/AIDS was identified in April 1986 in a girl of 13 years. All age groups are affected, but it is higher among the 20-24 years age group, with a national prevalence of 5.6%. This age group is followed by the 25 and 29 years old with a 5.4% national prevalence. And ever since then the number of cases have escalated beyond imagination and millions of Nigerians are living with the disease, in which the cure is yet to be discovered.

HIV/AIDS has various symptoms, which includes body weakness, constant and excessive cough, stooling, lost of body weight, rashness etc there are also various means of contacting this disease which may include, sexual relation with an infected person, for example through vaginal intercourse, oral sex and anal sex. Other means of getting infected includes sharing of sharp objects with an infected person, unscreened blood transfusion, mother to child transmission etc.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is said to be a bane on the development of a society Thus, in Nigeria, the scourge has affected the economic population who are supposed to meaningfully contribute to the development of Nigeria. The use of anti – retroviral drugs have given hope to many infected persons for a life even after infection. These drugs are given free and are made available by donor agencies and the federal government in order to curb the number of casualties of the disease.

There are number of sensitization and preventive measures that are employed to check the menace of HIV/AIDS pandemic, and these are sex education, use of condoms and media campaigns. This research study is poised to uncover the attitudes of youths towards the HIV/ AIDS pandemic and to ascertain the behaviour of youths towards the various merchandize employed to combat the menace of HIV/AIDS in Niger state and most specifically in Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Youths constitutes the highest number of casualties of the disease, So the study chooses the students of the said institution as its research population. It is against this background that this study intends to address the following questions. What is the level of knowledge of students about HIV/AIDS. How prevalent is sexual abstinence among students and especially students of Federal University of Technology Minna. What are the perceptions of students towards Voluntary Counseling and Testing as a factor in the prevention of HIV/ AIDS? What are the attitudes of students towards HIV/ AIDS?

1.2 Research Problems

Sexual intercourse has led to sexually transmitted infection (HIV/ AIDS) which has led so many especially the youths to an early grave. Youths are not a homogenous population but a diverse group with different risk, needs and access to information and services (UNAIDS 2004).

Kabiru et al (2004) reported in a study conducted in a northern Nigerian town that the commonest high risk sexual behaviour among the sexually active university students was having multiple sexual partners (51.7%) followed by the history of sexually transmitted infection, (29.8%) anal sexual intercourse (12.1%) alcohol consumption (12.8%), and intravenous drug use (6.4%).

There is evidence of increased sexual activity and high risk behaviours among students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria with high prevalence rate of sexually transmitted infections (HIV/ AIDS), (16.3% and 23%, in the North and South respectively).

1.3 Objective of the Research

The general objective of this research is to address the perceptions of students towards the prevention of HIV/ AIDS.

However, the specific objectives of this research are:

To assess students knowledge and attitude towards HIV/ AIDS
To examine the various ways of sexual abstinence among university students.
To understand the perceptions of students towards prevention method as a factor in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (HIV/ AIDS).

1.4 Research Hypotheses

H1: There is a relationship in the knowledge of HIV/ AIDS and the prevention of the disease.
H0: There is no relationship in the knowledge of HIV/ AIDS and the prevention of the disease.

1.5 Significance of the Study

Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) and acquire immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has continue to be the major concern not only to Niger state government but the federal government and the entire world. This study may then serve as a pioneer effort towards the understanding of HIV/ AIDS among students of federal university of technology Minna, Niger State. The result of this study may help policy maker’s particularly educational planners in Niger state to design more appropriate instructional programme on HIV/ AIDS.

The study may also provide the basis for further research on HIV/AIDS

1.6 Research Question

To what extent has the society try to educate its youth about HIV/AIDS?
Does economic status and educational background among undergraduates determine students’ knowledge of HV/AIDS?
Do parents, religious leaders or government responsible for HIV/AIDS among students.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This research is limited to issues about the knowledge and attitude of students towards HIV/ AIDS in federal university of technology Minna, A convent sampling of 100 students.

The research is limited to only undergraduate students of FUT Minna.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

5.0 Introduction

This chapter specifically focuses on the summary of findings, conclusion and recommendation.

5.1 Summary of Major Findings

The research uncovered numerous issues related to the student’s’ knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS. It is quite evident that the knowledge of HIV/AIDS have played significant role in student attitude towards sex.

From the analysis the following result were obtained:

A majority of the student of Federal University of Technology Minna are aware of HIV/AIDS

Mass media is one of the student’s sources of information about HIV/AIDS. The students knows how HIV/AIDS can be controlled and indicated unprotected sex and all of the above mentioned as the major ways of contracting HIV/AIDS.

The student indicated desire for voluntary counseling and testing, then one-third of them had gone for HIV/AIDS testing.

There is the problem of student not wanting to open up when it comes through their sexual lives, and HIV/AIDS status for fear of stigmatization. However the students appear to be sexually active as indicated in the data collected with most of them having sex on a regular basis.

5.2 Conclusion

HIV/AIDS has received a very wide range of campaigns in Nigeria and the world at large. The knowledge of HIV/AIDS among the population was boosted through the activities of some national and international organizations like NACA, which engaged in schools, place of worship and communities at large.

Today, more and more people are aware of the causes of the disease and how it can be prevented. This has resulted in the reduction of transmitting of HIV/AIDS in our society.

5.3 Recommendation

There is urgent need for sex education for youths at every level of their education which should be organize, executed and finance by the government agency like the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) at Federal, State, Local Government level and other relevant and concern non governmental agencies.

Centers for voluntary counseling and testing should be built at all tertiary institutions in the country and students should be encouraged to patronize it once or twice a year. There is need for change in the attitude of students and the society at large towards the issue of HIV/AIDS and cultural reorientation in relation to those living with HIV/AIDS in order to address stigmatization.

Counseling departments should be established where there are none and trained counselors should be employed in all the tertiary institutions of learning in Nigeria.

Children should be allowed to enjoy free contacts with parents and teachers, so that they could share their problems and curiosity and assimilate moral concepts of higher reasoning.

Sex education should be included in the secondary school curriculum to educate the youth early enough about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and the benefit of abstinence and being faithful to a partner.

Stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS must be discouraged at all sectors of the society.

Detention, isolation or other attacks on the liberty and freedom of movement of HIV/AIDS infected individual and their families must be frawn at by the constituted authorities.

Invasions of privacy, including publication of names and addresses of persons suspected to be HIV positive should be avoided at all cost.

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