A study of HIV/AIDS awareness among adolescents in some selected rural primary schools: a case study of four schools in Rangwe division, Homabay district Nyanza province

Abstract

Psychology as a discipline can be used, to help us understand the reasons why a large number of newly infected persons with HIV/AIDS is in the adolescence stage. This is because, this stage is marked by a time of rapid physical development, that gives the adolescent the capacity for reproduction, and also increased genital sensitivity that ensures their interest in sexuality. This factor puts the adolescents at risk of HIV/AIDS infection. More significantly there can be little doubt that the current interest in adolescents stem from the fact that young people in our society are facing the danger of HIV/AIDS scourge. The purpose of this dissertation was therefore to find out the adolescents knowledge on HIV/AIDS. A sample of 160 respondents was purposively selected from different school in Rangwe Division, Homa-Bay District. Questionnaire was the primary tool used in this study. The analysis of data was both quantitative and qualitative. The study report reveals that majority of the adolescents have knowledge on HIV/AIDS as was measured by mode of transmission, prevention and perception of risk. The study also revealed that despite this high level of awareness the adolescents still do not know what the abbreviations HIV and AIDS stands for. The study also found out that there was no significant relationship between age and knowledge' of HIV/AIDS.