Prevalence of major HIV- risk related behaviour among SSS3 students in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

SUMMARYThe paper intended to find the prevalence of HIV infection risk-related behaviours among third year senior secondary school students in Port Harcourt metropolis. A cross-sectional survey among 1800 third year senior secondary school students randomly selected from thirteen secondary schools in Port Harcourt metropolis was done using two-stage sampling technique. Demographic data and information on the sexual behaviour of each student in the study group was obtained from self-administered structured questionnaire. The prevalence of sexual intercourse was 61.1%. Males were more sexually active than females. Age of first sexual intercourse was 13.2±5.6 years for males and 13.9±4.1 years for females. Of the sexually active students, 32.6% had multiple sexual partners. Sexual activity of the students did not increase with age. The prevalence of Intravenous drug use (IVDU) was found to be 1.4%. The use of intravenous drugs was more among the males (80.8%) than among the females. The prevalence of blood transfusion is 10.3%. Among the sexually active students only 437 (36.9%) used condom. Sex of student, social class and school gender were significant predictors of ever-had sexual activity. The paper concludes that the prevalence of sexual behaviour related to the development of HIV/AIDS amongst the students is high. The need to highlight HIV/AIDS education programmes in the school curriculum of adolescents is discussed. [Afr J Health Sci. 2008; 15:42-49]

Awareness of HIV/AIDS among Selected Secondary School Students in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State

“…However, opinions are divided in Nigeria about secondary school students' level of awareness of HIV/AIDS and the sources of students' knowledge of the epidemic. While some scholars hold that the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS is high other scholars hold that the level of awareness of the epidemic is low among secondary school students (Aomreore, Alikor, & Nkanginieme, 2004;Wagbatsoma and Okojie, 2006;Sa'ad & Bello, 2006;Murtala, 2009;Adeleke et al, 2015;and Suleiman, 2018). Another set of scholars outside the academic environment of Nigeria argue that the students aged 15-19 years, single, belonging to the Muslim religion and studying at secondary schools were associated with poor knowledge on HIV/AIDS (Dzah, Tarkang & Lutala, 2019).…”

“…The above four modes of transmission were identified by only 31%, 14.4%, 9.1% and 8%, respectively. Only 0.7% identified all the preventive measures (Aomreore, Alikor, & Nkanginieme, 2004). Another survey in western Nigeria assessing the level of awareness, knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in Atisbo Local Government Area, Nigeria, showed that participants possess relatively good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, reasonable knowledge of safe sexual practices and positive attitude towards sexuality, HIV/AIDS and people living with PLHIV (Adeleke et al, 2015).…”