APPRAISAL OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS REGARDING HIV AND AIDS IN KURIA EAST SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
HIV and AIDS continue to be a heavy burden to most individuals, families and countries
especially in the developing countries. Empowerment of the youth regarding HIV and AIDS
can have a lifelong influence on their behaviour as individuals, their families and their
communities. Youths when equipped with proper knowledge early in life, change of attitude
and practices will be inevitable. The main objective for the study was to determine the
current knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary school students regarding HIV and
AIDS in Kuria-Sub County, Kenya. Descriptive survey using a self-administered structured
questionnaire was used to collect data from 354 students who were randomly selected from 6
schools out of 11 schools. The participants composed of 54% boys and 46% girls. Data was
analysed using SPSS Version 17.0. The results show that students’ level of knowledge was
high at an average score of 16.96 (73%), the average positive attitude of students was 10.50
(55.26%) while negative attitude standing at 8.50 (44.73%). The average acceptable practice
was 4.62(46.2%) both towards people with HIV and towards the disease itself for behavior
change. Approximately 5.38 (53.8%) of students still take the risk to expose themselves to
HIV and AIDS regardless of year of study. There is need to intensify and broaden HIV
education among primary schools and secondary schools, enhance HIV counselling in
secondary schools on effects of stigmatisation, increase mass media campaigns against HIV
specifically among secondary school students. Further consider distribution of condoms to
secondary schools and the community, conduct frequent evaluation of the behaviour change
programs. HIV youth programs in Kenya should focus on the attitudes and practices of the
youth in order to change the picture of the whole youth population.