HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Uptake of HIV Testing Services:A Comparative Study of Male and Female Secondary School Students in Lagos, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med 2019;
36:222-231. [PMID:
31622484]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and use of HIV Testing Services in Nigeria is still far from optimal. Good HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes are important in prevention. The aim of this study was to assess and compare HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and the uptake of HIV Testing Services between male and female senior secondary school students in Lagos, Nigeria.
METHODS
Using multistage sampling, 543 (50.3% male, 49.7 % female) participants were selected in a comparative cross-sectional study carried out in six senior secondary schools in Alimosho LGA, Lagos. Data was collected using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS- 20, p<0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
Participants' level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS was good (86.4% male, 86.3% female), the difference was not statistically significant. The main source of HIV/AIDS information was their teachers (male - 53.6%, female - 49.3%). Attitudes were positive (99.3% males, 98.1% females). However, the uptake of HIV testing was low (27.8% male, 24.1% female). Only 41.8% of males and 34.1% of females knew where HIV Testing Services were offered. The uptake of HIV testing showed a significant association, for the males, with family structure (p=0.034), confiding in their fathers (p=0.039) and religion (p=0.044), and for the females, mothers' level of education (p=0.036), number of siblings (p=0.044) and alcohol use (p=0.006).
CONCLUSION
In both groups, knowledge and attitude were optimal, however. the uptake of HIV testing was low due to poor access. Teaching about HIV/AIDS in schools should be sustained, but to improve the use of HIV Testing Services, stronger families are encouraged, though providing more HIV testing centers, especially Youth Friendly Centers should be considered.
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