Orji Maria-Lauretta Chito, Joe-Akunne Chinwe Ifeoma, Ifebunandu Ngozi Appolonia, Onah Ogoma Cynthia, Oyim-Elechi Cecilia Oluchukwu, Nwobi Miracle Anurika, Agbo Stephnora Ezinne, Otubo Sunday Austin
Department of Paediatrics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Niger Med J. 2025 Jan 10;65(6):1135-1145. doi: 10.60787/nmj.v65i6.606. eCollection 2024 Nov-Dec.
Attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV among adolescents and young adults (AYA) may influence practices that increase the risk of HIV transmission. The study aimed to determine the attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV among senior secondary students and their sexual practices.
It was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved 1,200 adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 14-24 years in senior secondary schools in Abakaliki. Information was obtained using a two-part pre-tested questionnaire that tested attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV using a 6-item questionnaire and another part sought information on biodata and sexual practices. The p-value of < 0.05 was statistically significant.
The median (IQR) age of participants was 16.0 (9.0) years, and the majority (64.4%, 773/1,200) were females with a male-to-female ratio of 1.0: 1.8. Seven hundred and thirty (60.8%) had positive attitudes and beliefs towards HIV. Although 628 (52.3%) were willing to be tested for HIV, only 25.6% (307/1,200) have ever been tested for HIV. Three hundred and fifty-five (29.6%) of them had engaged in sexual activities, of which 145 (12.1%) had multiple sexual partners. There were significant relationships between attitude, beliefs, and age ((χ= 39.69. p = <0.001), willingness to test for HIV (χ = 10.20. p= 0.002), and having multiple sexual partners (χ= 5.49, p= 0.019).
Positive attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV were high but were not reflected in their practices. Sustained efforts toward effective HIV-related health education in schools and improved adolescent-friendly health services where HIV screening is readily accessible are recommended.
青少年和青年（AYA）对艾滋病毒的态度和信念可能会影响增加艾滋病毒传播风险的行为。该研究旨在确定高中生对艾滋病毒的态度和信念及其性行为。
这是一项横断面描述性研究，涉及阿巴卡利基高中1200名年龄在14至24岁之间的青少年和青年（AYA）。使用一份经过预测试的两部分问卷获取信息，该问卷一部分使用6项问卷测试对艾滋病毒的态度和信念，另一部分获取生物数据和性行为方面的信息。p值<0.05具有统计学意义。
参与者的年龄中位数（IQR）为16.0（9.0）岁，大多数（64.4%，773/1200）为女性，男女比例为1.0:1.8。730人（60.8%）对艾滋病毒持积极态度和信念。虽然628人（52.3%）愿意接受艾滋病毒检测，但只有25.6%（307/1200）曾接受过艾滋病毒检测。其中355人（29.6%）有过性行为，其中145人（12.1%）有多个性伴侣。态度、信念与年龄（（χ=39.69，p=<0.001）、接受艾滋病毒检测的意愿（χ=10.20，p=0.002）以及有多个性伴侣（χ=5.49，p=0.019）之间存在显著关系。
对艾滋病毒的积极态度和信念较高，但未体现在他们的行为中。建议在学校持续开展有效的艾滋病毒相关健康教育，并改善青少年友好型健康服务，使艾滋病毒检测易于获得。
