Does Distributing Pamphlet Make a Difference in Knowledge and Attitude towards VCT among High School Students?
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Date
2007-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In order to attain change in knowledge, attitude and behaviour, the community should
have access to adequate and factual health information. In Ethiopia, most of the
health institutions develop one or more of printed health education materials, majority
of which are pamphlets and posters on HIV/AIDS. Although such materials are being
distributed, the level of their effectiveness in changing knowledge, attitude and
behaviour of the target population is not established in the local context.
The objective of this thesis research was to develop and test the effectiveness of a
VCT pamphlet in changing knowledge and attitude of high school students towards
VCT in North Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
A Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted to test the effectiveness of a VCT
pamphlet in changing knowledge and attitude of high school students towards VCT.
The intervention and control groups were selected randomly from the two high schools
found in North Shoa. Single blinding was employed to avoid the Hawthorn effect. The
VCT pamphlet was given only to the intervention group. The pre-and post-intervention
knowledge and attitude of students towards VCT were assessed by the use of
structured and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire.
The distribution of change in knowledge and attitude were computed. There was a
significant difference in change in knowledge between intervention and control groups
(t = -9.12, df = 720, p< 0.01), i.e. it was significantly high among the intervention
group. On the other hand, change in attitude was not significantly different among
intervention and control groups, even though there was an increase in attitude
towards VCT. The change in knowledge was significantly associated with some sociodemographic,
sexual partner number, stigma and discriminatory attitude, and baseline
knowledge and attitude towards PLWHA (p< 0.05).
The study shows that it is possible to change the knowledge of the target group
through distributing pamphlets, and perhaps not the attitude. It is recommended to
consider different factors such as socio-demographic, knowledge and attitude level of
the audience before preparation and distribution of pamphlets to attain the intended
change
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Keywords
Health Information, VCT