HIV/AIDS knowledge of secondary school learners in Sefhare, Botswana

• Main Author: Adenuga, Babafunso Aderemi
• Other Authors: Ehlers, Valerie Janet, 1948-
• Language: en
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS knowledge; Prevention of HIV infection; Teenage sexual beliefs; Secondary school learners; 362.19697920096883; AIDS (Disease) > Botswana > Prevention; HIV infections > Botswana > Prevention; AIDS (Disease) > Study and teaching (Secondary) > Botswana; HIV infections > Study and teaching (Secondary) > Botswana; Health education (Secondary) > Botswana; Life skills > Study and teaching (Secondary) > Botswana; High school students > Health and hygiene > Botswana; Sex instruction for teenagers > Botswana; Teenagers > Sexual behavior > Botswana; Teenagers > Botswana > Conduct of life
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3820

Quantitative, descriptive research, using self-completion questionnaires, was conducted to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of the learners in Sefhare. The sample, comprising 92 learners, was selected from forms 1-3. Of the learners, 53.4% knew what HIV/AIDS stand for, but only 13.6% said AIDS is caused by HIV and only 4.5% said AIDS is an incurable disease. The ABC of protecting oneself against HIV (abstain from sex, be faithful to one sex partner, use condoms) was mentioned by merely 57.6% of the learners. The learners’ lack of knowledge should be addressed by school HIV/AIDS programmes offered at schools in Botswana. As 81.5% of the learners were willing to be tested for HIV, this service should be made available with simultaneous confidential personal HIV/AIDS education, irrespective of the HIV test results. Teachers’ and parents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge should also be updated regularly. === Health Studies === M.A. (Public Health)