HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BELIEF

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

 

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

 

 

 Abstract

This study is on HIV/AIDS: knowledge, attitudes and belief. The total population for the study is 200 students of University of Lagos. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made final year students, year 4 students, year 3 students and year 2 students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the virus Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV), was first discovered in the 1980 in the United States of America, and now it has spread like flood over the globe (UNAIDS, 2001). At the first discovery of the deadly sickness, it was recorded that 21.8 million people died as a result of it. A breakdown from this data shows that 13.2 million orphaned by AIDS worldwide since the first incident; Ninety-five percent (95%) of them live in Africa. Similarly, it is estimated that about 25.3 million Africans live with HIV or AIDS, with about 150,000 infected on a daily basis (Peltzer et al., 2002). It is observed that this deadly ailment mostly struck young adults between ages 25-45yrs. The record for adolescent is about 60 percent of those infected in many countries; reason being that they are one of the most vulnerable because of the physical, psychological, social and economic attributes of adolescence. For instance, they are more often seen engaging in the following activities sex (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual activities or oral sex), smoking, tattooing, taking drugs (such as marijuana and cocaine), manicure/ pedicure, kissing with bruised gum, and drinking alcohol; which at the end of the day leads to contracting HIV/AIDS (Rwenger 2003). In addition, it has been estimated that 60 percent of Nigerians infected with HIV/AIDS are youths between ages 13 to 25 (UNAIDS Report, 2005). This has greatly affected the work force of the country as youths make up the greater percentage of work force of any country. However, it has been reported that the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS by universities undergraduate is very low, they have little knowledge, alongside many misconceptions about it (Costin et al. 2002). Similarly, University of Lagos undergraduates have knowledge about HIV/AIDS to an extent, at least the various modes of transmission like blood transfusion, sexual contact, and share of sharp objects; but the problem lies in their misconception on its transmission. It is obvious the students are familiar with the term but most of them believe HIV/AIDS can be transmitted kissing, hugging and shaking of hands. Also, in a study carried out by Okeke and Fortune’s (1992), they revealed that most students were aware that HIV/AIDS could be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact, and sharing of needles with an infected patient; though a few also know that the virus cannot be transferred through sharing of clothes, shaking of hands, kissing, and hugging. It is equally reported that despite the fact that undergraduates were aware of transmission through sex, it still did not stop undergraduates of universities in Nigeria from engaging in unprotected sex. In addition, some of the students have this belief that HIV/AIDS can be transferred through mosquito bites It is therefore pertinent at this point to reveal a result of a research carried out by Meneghin (1996), he interviewed 10 university students and 21 detainees of University of Sao Paulo. Of which from the interview, it was discovered that 76.5 percent of the students and 67.9 percent of the detainees were of the opinion that HIV/AIDS was something very far from them, thus a test was conducted on them which instilled fear in about 50% of the students and 67.9 percent of the detainees.

However, it is due to the aforementioned discrepancies about HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in Nigerian universities, University of Lagos to be precise, that this study has been necessitated.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

HIV/AIDS has added to the already poor state of Nigeria in which people die every day due to poverty. The deadly virus has sent many youths who would have contributed to the productivity of Nigeria to their early graves. In many Nigerian universities, University of Lagos to be precise, many of its students do not know their HIV status because of the many misconceptions they have. Similarly, unfortunate undergraduates of University of Lagos who are infected with the virus prefer to remain quite about it, instead of being open to help. All these are the problems that have spurred this study

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The major objective of this study is to examine HIV/AIDS: knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among University of Lagos undergraduate students.

Other specific objectives include:

1. To investigate the effects of poor knowledge about HIV/AIDS on undergraduates of University of Lagos.
2. To determine the extent to which undergraduates of University of Lagos are enlightened about HIV/AIDS.
3. To examine if there are courses in the university that promote awareness on HIV/AIDS.
4. To examine the relationship between age and undergraduates of University of Lagos in tackling issues associated with HIV/AIDS.

 

• RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following have been put forward for testing

H0:  The undergraduates of University of Lagos are not enlightened about HIV/AIDS.

H1:  The undergraduates of University of Lagos are enlightened about HIV/AIDS.

 H0:   there are no effects of poor knowledge about HIV/AIDS on undergraduates of University of Lagos.

H1:   there are effects of poor knowledge about HIV/AIDS on undergraduates of University of Lagos.

 

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study aims at informing, educating, sensitizing and enlightening the general public and undergraduates of institutions about how to prevent and manage HIV/AIDS. Similarly, this study is coming on the thrust of reminding the government, tertiary school administrators and non-governmental organizations that much is expected of them in enlightening the general public and undergraduates of universities about HIV/AIDS. They are meant to put programmes and campaigns that will aid this together to achieve excellence. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this topic and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other work or study.

 

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study is restricted to HIV/AIDS: knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among undergraduates, with University of Lagos as a case study.

The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

• DEFINITION OF TERMS

HIV/AIDS: AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a syndrome caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the syndrome progresses.

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person (semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby during childbirth, and through breast feeding.

 HIV can be transmitted in many ways, such as vaginal, oral sex, anal sex, blood transfusion, and contaminated hypodermic needles.

Both the virus and the syndrome are often referred to together as HIV/AIDS. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. As a result, some will then develop AIDS. The development of numerous opportunistic infections in an AIDS patient can ultimately lead to death.

According to research, the origins of HIV date back to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century in west-central Africa. AIDS and its cause, HIV, were first identified and recognized in the early 1980s.

There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS. Treatments can slow the course of the condition – some infected people can live a long and relatively healthy life.

KNOWLEDGE: These are facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

ATTITUDE: A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.

BELIEF: This is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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