Assessment of HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexuality among primary school youth in Mwanza region

Abstract

A descriptive cross sectional study was undertaken in Mwanza Region during June 2004, to assess HIV I AIDS knowledge and sexuality among primary school youth of class VI and VII. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Of 1630 study participants, 888 (54.5%) were from HIV/AIDS intervention schools (Magu District) and 742 (45.5%) from no-intervention schools (Ilemela District); 577 (35.4%) were boys and 1053 (64.6%) were girls. The study results indicated that 94% of respondents from intervention group were aware of HIV/AIDS as compared with 74% in non-intervention group (p= 0.00001). Respondents who scored high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge were 83% from intervention group as compared with 86.4% from non-intervention group. However, 71 % of respondents from non-intervention group knew 3 preventive measures against HIV infection compared with 64.2% respondents from intervention group. Pupils from the intervention group were twice as likely to be more sexually active than pupils from non-intervention group, 20.7% vs 11.3% (OR=2.03, 95% Cl 1.52,2.71). Condom awareness was significantly higher in intervention group than in non- intervention group, 96% vs 87% (p<0.0003). For respondents who are sexually active they reported to have higher condom use in intervention group (28.8%) than in non- intervention group (20.2%).

vu Sources of information on HIV / AIDS and sexuality reported did not differ among study groups except peer educators were more common for the intervention group than in non- intervention group. This study concludes that school HIV / AIDS education program using peer educators did not demonstrate success in reduction of sexual activity among pupils. Development of appropriate teaching strategies and learning materials for HIV / AIDS education for school youth to bring positive sexual behaviour change is required.