Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards people with HIV and AIDS among private higher education students in Johannesburg, South Africa

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards people with HIV and AIDS among private higher education students in Johannesburg, South Africa
 
Creator Khamisa, Natasha Mokgobi, Maboe Basera, Tariro
 
Subject — attitudes about contraception; levels of knowledge; risky sexual behaviours; gender differences; young female students
Description Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS) is a global health and social problem, with South Africa having an estimated overall prevalence rate of 13.5%. Compared to young male participants, young female participants have been reported to have less knowledge about HIV and AIDS, including prevention strategies, and this is associated with risky sexual behaviours and negative attitudes towards condom use.Objectives: The study investigated gender differences in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards HIV and AIDS among 542 private higher education students in Johannesburg, South Africa.Method: Participants completed an online structured questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes and behaviours as well as demographics (including age, gender and relationship status).Results: The results indicate that overall there were no significant differences between male and female students in terms of HIV and AIDS knowledge. However, female students had significantly less knowledge with regard to unprotected anal sex as a risk factor for HIV and AIDS. In addition, young female students reported condom use at last sex less frequently than male students. Nonetheless, both genders reported a positive attitude towards condom use and towards people living with HIV and AIDS.Conclusion: It is recommended that the relevant authorities at the state and the higher education level seriously consider implementing specific strategies for preventing HIV and AIDS through improved knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among young females.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Monash South Africa
Date 2020-03-24
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.991
 
Source Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine; Vol 21, No 1 (2020); 7 pages 2078-6751 1608-9693
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/991/1789 https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/991/1788 https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/991/1790 https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/991/1787
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2020 Natasha Khamisa, Maboe Mokgobi, Tariro Basera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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