PharmAccess Foundation Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
Master's Program in Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
J Int AIDS Soc. 2012 Feb 22;15(1):9. doi: 10.1186/1758-2652-15-9.
With an overall adult HIV prevalence of 15.3%, Namibia is facing one of the largest HIV epidemics in Africa. Young people aged 20 to 34 years constitute one of the groups at highest risk of HIV infection in Namibia. However, little is known about the impact of HIV on this group and its access to healthcare. The purpose of this study was to estimate HIV prevalence, to assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, and to assess access to healthcare among university students in Namibia.
We assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes, HIV prevalence and access to healthcare among students at the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia. HIV prevalence was tested through anonymous oral fluid-based tests.
Half (n = 2790/5568) of the university students and 45% (n = 2807/6302) of the Polytechnic students participated in the knowledge and attitudes surveys. HIV/AIDS knowledge was reasonable, except for misperceptions about transmission. Awareness of one's own HIV status and risks was low. In all, 55% (n = 3055/5568) of university students and 58% (n = 3680/6302) of Polytechnic students participated in the HIV prevalence survey; 54 (1.8%) university students and 103 (2.8%) Polytechnic students tested HIV positive. Campus clinics were not the major providers of healthcare to the students.
Meaningful strategies addressing the gap between knowledge, attitude and young people's perception of risk of HIV acquisition should be implemented. HIV prevalence among Namibian university students appears relatively low. Voluntary counselling and testing should be stimulated. Efforts should be made to increase access to healthcare through the campus clinics.
纳米比亚成年人艾滋病毒总体感染率为 15.3%，面临着非洲最大的艾滋病毒流行之一。20 至 34 岁的年轻人是纳米比亚艾滋病毒感染风险最高的群体之一。然而，人们对这一群体感染艾滋病毒的情况及其获得医疗保健的情况知之甚少。本研究的目的是评估纳米比亚大学生的艾滋病毒流行率，评估他们对艾滋病毒/艾滋病的知识和态度，以及评估他们获得医疗保健的机会。
我们评估了纳米比亚理工学院和纳米比亚大学学生的艾滋病毒/艾滋病知识和态度、艾滋病毒流行率以及获得医疗保健的机会。通过匿名口腔液基测试检测艾滋病毒流行率。
5568 名大学生中有一半（n=2790）和 6302 名理工学院学生中有 45%（n=2807）参加了知识和态度调查。艾滋病毒/艾滋病知识相当合理，除了对传播途径的误解。对自己艾滋病毒状况和风险的认识很低。共有 55%（n=3055）的大学生和 6302 名理工学院学生中的 58%（n=3680）参加了艾滋病毒流行率调查；54 名（1.8%）大学生和 103 名（2.8%）理工学院学生艾滋病毒检测呈阳性。校园诊所并不是学生主要的医疗保健提供者。
应实施有意义的战略，解决知识、态度和年轻人对艾滋病毒感染风险认知之间的差距。纳米比亚大学生艾滋病毒流行率似乎相对较低。应鼓励自愿咨询和检测。应努力通过校园诊所增加获得医疗保健的机会。
