Abstract:
HIV/AIDS is an extraordinary human health crisis that is extremely dynamic and is growing and changing in character as more people are continuing to be infected and affected. Of great concern is the spread and transmission among the adolescents. It is with the realization of this that the governmept of Kenya has introduced HIV/AIDS education in primary and secondary schools to assist/ in creating awareness and changing of attitude and behaviour among students towards sexual activities. This study assessed the impact of HIV/AIDS education on attitude and behaviour of primary school pupils towards sexual activities in Ol-Jor-Orok Division of Nyandarua District. This study adopted an ex post facto research design. The target population was 1909 standard seven primary pupils in 51 primary schools in the study area. A random sample of 100 pupils from five public primary schools was used. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire from the selected respondents. The collected data were then analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of a computer-based programme - Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 11.5. Data presented in this study supported the following findings: There was a positive relationship between the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and attitude and behaviour of the pupils towards sexual activities. There was a negative relationship between the age of pupils and their level of attitude and behaviour towards sexual activities. There was a significant positive relationship between the academic performance of a pupils and his/her level of attitude and behaviour towards sexual activities. There was no relationship between the gender of the pupils and his/her level of attitude and behaviour towards sexual activities. Socio-economic status of the parent had no significant relationship with the attitude and behaviour of the pupil towards sexual activities and HIV/AIDS. Based on these study findings, three key recommendations were made to assist improve and strengthen on HIV/AIDS education in the study area and beyond. HIV/AIDS education should be strengthened more through in-service training of the primary school teachers and more resources allocated to the programme. There is a need to formulate an effective method and strategies to handle those older pupils who might have entered their adolescent stage. There is a need for the society at large to change their attitude and beliefs about sex and the associated risks.
