KNOWLEDGE AND UTILISATION OF HIV COUNSELLING AND TESTING SERVICES AMONG PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) is the entry point for the treatment and prevention of HIV transmission. The role of teachers in national development can be jeopardized if there is a high prevalence of HIV infection among this group. Presently, teachers are not regarded as high risk group as far as HIV/AIDS education is concerned and the possibility of contracting this disease is high as many of them are sexually active and may predispose to other means of HIV transmission. This study was therefore designed to assess knowledge and utilization of primary school teacherson HCT services in Ibadan North Local Government Area (LGA). The study was a descriptive survey. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 400 teachers in selected public primary schools in the LGA for interview. The instrument for data collection was a pre-tested semi–structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi square test with level of significant set at p ≤ 0.05. Age of respondents was 44.3±7.3 years, 89.0% were females and 90.8% were married. Most (99.0%) respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS. The overall knowledge score on HIV causation, transmission and prevention was 19.1±2.0 with 80.8% having good knowledge. Specifically, 46.5% knew the causative agent of AIDS and 26.9% knew that HIV could be detected through laboratory test. Only 10.3% mentioned sexual abstinence as a way of preventing HIV transmission. Other preventive measures listed by the respondents include, use of condom (23.3%) and avoidance of contaminated needles (22.3%). Only 32.5% of the respondents had ever received any training on HIV/AIDS or reproductive health issues and 13.4% had ever involved in school-based outreach programmes on HIV/AIDS. Above half (56.8%) of the respondents were aware of HCT. The electronic media (radio/TV) constituted their main source of information (30.9%). Only 26.3% knew what the HIV acronym stand for and another 42.5% knew where HCT services were located in their vicinity. Sex, religion and marital status of respondents were found to be significantly associated with knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Perception of self-vulnerability to HIV was low as only 28.6% perceived themselves as susceptible. Marital status was significantly associated with perception of susceptibility to HIV (p<0.05). Majority (89.5%) of the respondents believed sexually active persons should go iv for HIV testing every six months. Only 32.2% had voluntarily tested for HIV. Reasons adduced for unwillingness to go for HCT included: belief in God‟s protection (27.7%), non-involvement in risky behaviours (23.3%), unreliability of test results (10.3%) and feeling that report might be positive (8.3%). Proximity to their homes (40.4%) and schools (25.0%) was the main factor that influenced some respondents‟ choice of HCT. Studied primary school teachers knowledge about HIV/AIDS, awareness, and utilisation of HIV counselling and testing services were low. Health promotion strategies such as HIV/AIDS education and behaviour change communication programme to improve knowledge and use of HIV Counselling and Testing services among teachers are recommended.