Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Hiv/Aids and Voluntary Counseling and Testing Among Sayint General Secondary School Students, South Wollo, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic infections disease caused by HIV virus. AIDS is a pandemic disease that occurs worldwide. The major mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS worldwide is through sexual contacts. Other routes of transmission include transfusion of infected blood and blood products, occupational transmission, prenatal transfusion and others. The objective of this research was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards HIV/AIDS and VCT among Sayint general secondary school students, South Wollo Ethiopia. The study was an institutional based cross-sectional study conducted on 377 study participants recruited using stratified random sampling techniques. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were used to collect data on KAP from the study participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Prior to data analysis data were entered into Epi info, double checked for completeness and exported to SPSS. From the binary logistic regression model fitted, residence and grade level significantly predicted the outcome variable (knowledge). Participants from urban areas had six times more knowledge than those from rural areas (AOR, 6.52; CI, 2.22 – 19.12; p = 0.001), and as grade level increased the knowledge about HIV/AIDS also increased (Grade 10, AOR, 2.7; CI, 1.15 – 6.36; p = 0.023), Grade 11 (AOR, 3.69; CI, 1.47 – 9.30; p = 0.005) and Grade 12 (AOR, 8.55; CI, 2.41 – 30.27; p = 0.001). The odds of having positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS was significantly lower among study participants who obtained information from their parents was significantly lower than those that obtain information from other sources ( p = 0.02). Married individuals had three times more positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS than those who were single (AOR, 3.98; CI, 1.10 – 14.56; p= 0.037). Study participants from urban areas had better knowledge towards VCT than those from rural areas (AOR, 8.476; CI, 2.598 – 27.658; p = 0.0001). As age increased by one year the odds of having positive attitude towards VCT also increased (AOR, 1.266; CI, 1.027 – 1.560; p= 0.027). Similarly, married individuals had positive attitude towards VCT compared to single individuals (AOR, 3.985; CI, 1.851 – 8.579; p = 0.0001). But, females didn’t have positive attitude towards VCT compared to males (AOR, 0.407; CI, 0.240 – 0.692; p= 0.027). Proper practice towards VCT increased with increasing age (AOR, 1.279; CI, 1.044 – 1.568; p = 0.018). Proper practice towards VCT was higher for participants who obtained information through literature than those who obtained information though radio (AOR, 2.069; CI, 1.143 – 3.747; p = 0.016). Generally, practice towards HIV/AIDS and VCT in this study was low despite better knowledge about the diseases. Creation of awareness on practice towards HIV/AIDS and VCT is recommended.
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Keywords
Voluntary Testing and Counseling, HIV/AIDS Attitude, Knowledge, Practice, Sayint, Ethiopia