HIV: knowledge and sexual practices amongst students of a school of communnity health in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

A cross sectional study w a s conducted amongst students of a school of health technology in Yaba. Lagos. Nigeria to determine their knowledge about HIV/AID S a n d their sexual practices. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Two hundred and thirty-six students out o f 250 participated in the study (94 % response rate). The mean age was 24.7+5. 2 years, 167 (71% ) respondents were females while 69 (29% ) were males. One hundred and seventy-seven (75% ) students were single and 59 (25% ) were married . Knowledge on HIV w a s grade d using twenty-nine items on the questionnaire, each scored o n e mark . A maximum score of 29 was obtainable a n d respondents with score s greater than 5 0 % were classified as having a satisfactory level of knowledge . Ninety-nine percent had heard about HIV/AIDS through several sources. Knowledge o f symptoms, method s o f transmission and prevention were generally satisfactory. One hundred and seventy one (72% ) students were sexually active , 4 8 % engaged in casual sex and 9 % had multiple partners. Of the 171 who were in sexual relationship with a primary partner, 4 9 (29%) used condom s all the time . O n e hundre d a n d fourteen (48% ) admitted to having casual sex but 6 0 (53% ) used condoms all the time during casual sex. Partner and personal dislike as well a s reduction in sexual pleasure were reasons for non-use of condoms. A significantly higher proportion of students in the higher classes (74/94,79% ) possessed a higher level of knowledge than those in the lower class (78/142,55% , p=0.0003). One hundred and fifty-two (64% ) students possessed a satisfactory level of knowledge on the subject, but many engaged in risky behaviour.