Adolescents Knowledge and Practices on Sexuality and HIV&AIDS: A Case Study of Selected Secondary Schools in Ngong Municipality

Abstract

Throughout the world, the spread of HIV/AIDS continues at an alarming rate. This pandemic has created a dramatic, often devastating impact on many countries. although much has been learned about this disease, researchers, do not predict a cure in the immediate future and an increasing number of HIV/AIDS — infected individuals is expected. This pandemic mainly strikes men and women in their economic and socially most active years between ages l5 ~ 49. The resulting illness significantly impact upon critical sectors of the labour force, both urban and rural and hence upon overall performance of the economy. The adolescents and young women in particular are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection and there is need for innovative preventive measures. The research was aimed at establishing the perceptions and knowledge on HIV/AIDS and whether such knowledge had influenced positive sexual behaviour change among the adolescents. The purpose of this study is to provide strategies that would help the youths to change risky sexual behaviour(s). The study was survey and targeted secondary school students in selected school in Ngong municipality in which the population was sampled randomly. The schools were clustered by type; boys’ schools, girls’ schools and mixed schools and then stratified into public schools, church run schools and private schools. To achieve these objectives a proportionate sample of 100 secondary school students in Ngong Municipality was randomly selected. The study sample was 85 respondents with 38 boys and 47 girls participating in the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 9.0. The findings of the study indicate that most of the respondents had knowledge about HIV/AIDS which might have influenced positive sexual behaviour among the youths. Peer pressure was cited as the main motivating factor to the high-risk sexual behaviour(s) among youths. Parents, friends and mass media were cited as the main source of information on HIV/AIDS and adolescents sexuality. The results of this study can be used to sensitize the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders who are engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS among youths in restructuring the strategies of HIV/AIDS programmes in schools.