Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: education exposure, knowledge and attitude of Nigerian adolescents in Calabar

Abstract

The knowledge of and attitude to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) of 738 secondary school youths in Calabar were studied by questionnaire in March 1991. Most (92%) of the adolescents had heard about AIDS, largely through the mass media (79-85%), with parents and teachers contributing in less than 40%. About 30% did not know that AIDS exists in Nigeria. Most of them knew that promiscuity, blood transfusion and sharing injection needles and syringes are the major modes of transmission, but a number still incriminate toilet seats, eating utensils, hand-shaking and kissing. Only 31% were aware that condoms provide protection. For self-protection the youths prefer abstinence (45%) and confinement to one sex partner (19%). Only 3.6% would adopt the use of condoms. To prevent the spread of AIDS, the youths prescribe isolation (37%), treatment (34%), and killing (14%) of diagnosed cases. Most youths (77%) will stop seeing friends and 63% will reject relatives who develop AIDS. The study reveals that while general awareness of AIDS is fairly good, detailed knowledge is riddled with misconceptions and confusion. It is recommended that physicians in the community should assist in disseminating accurate information, with the support of parents, teachers and the youths themselves.

Knowledge and Attitudes of High School Students about AIDS: A Turkish Perspective

“…The percentage of incorrect responses, such as innocent kissing, sharing a toilet, sharing a swimming pool, sharing plates or silverware, coughing, and sneezing was about 50% to 60%. These results are consistent with findings in the literature (Asindi, Ibia, & Young, 1992; Steiner, Sorokin, Schiedermayer, & Von Susteren, 1990; Trahtman, Santos, Costa, & Ramos, 1992). The outcome of misinformation is the creation of the feelings of isolation, exclusion, and stereotyping that is most feared by HIV/AIDS sufferers.…”

Aids awareness and knowledge among Botswana women: Implications for prevention programs

“…In the Ivory Coast, some AIDS Knowledge among Botswana Women 135 people confuse AIDS with a traditional disease or witchcraft (Caprara et al, 1991;Yelibi et al, 1993). Lack of understanding of AIDS as a disease and negative attitudes toward persons with AIDS have frequently been reported (Asindi et al, 1992;Bertrand et al, 1991b;Govender et al, 1992;Lindan et al, 1991;Ndeki et al, 1994;Yelibi et al, 1993). Disbelief in the effectiveness of condoms has been found among the general population (Asindi et al, 1992;Caprara et al, 1993;Govender et al, 1992;Lule & Gruer, 1991;Odebiyi, 1992;Wilson et al, 1991;Yelibi et al, 1993) and even among health care workers in Kenya (Rogstad et al, 1993).…”

“…The mass media, particularly radio stations, have been identified as primary information sources about AIDS in BurkinaFaso, Ghana, Nigeria, Zaire, and Zimbabwe (Asindi et al, 1992;Bertrand et al, 1991bBertrand et al, , 1992Caprara et al, 1993;Ndlovu & Sihlangu, 1992;Neequaya et al, 1991;Sicard et al, 1992). AIDS awareness and knowledge surveys have been conducted among the general population in Ghana (Neequaye et al, 1991), the Ivory Coast Yelibi et al, 1993), Uganda (Konde- Lule et al, 1993), Zaire (Bertrand et al, 1991a(Bertrand et al, , 1991b(Bertrand et al, , 1992, and Zimbabwe (Moyo et al, 1993;Wilson et al, 1991); among women only in Kenya (Garland et al, 1993), South Africa (Govender et al, 1992), Rwanda (Lindan et al, 1991), Uganda (McGrath et al, 1993), and Zaire (Bertrand et al, 1992); among students in Kenya (Sindiga & Lukhando, 1993), Nigeria (Asindi et al, 1992;Odebiyi, 1992), Tanzania (Ndeki et al, 1994), Uganda (Lule & Gruer, 1991), and Zimbabwe (Ndlovu & Sihlangu, 1992;Wilson et al, 1991); among health care workers in Nairobi and Kenya (Rogstad et al, 1993); and among long-distance truck drivers in Kenya (Bwayo et al, 1991). All surveys have found high levels of knowledge, especially about the basic fact that AIDS is spread by heterosexual contact.…”

Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and Sexual Practices among Automobile Repair Workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

“…However, unlike other studies, the radio seems to be the commonest source of information in this low income population. While most people have heard about HIV/ AIDS, knowledge about modes of transmission and methods of prevention are still inadequate 4,15,16 . Most respondents knew that HIV/ AIDS can be transmitted through sexual intercourse and blood transfusion.…”