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Virology research J 2017 Vol 1 Issue 2
Notes:
July 26-27, 2017 | Vancouver, Canada
WORLD CONFERENCE ON STDs, STIs & HIV/AIDS
allied
academies
T
here is a paucity of studies that have systematically
and comprehensively investigated the knowledge level,
attitudes and the pattern of sexual behaviours related to HIV
and AIDS in East Africa in particular. This study attempted to
fill this void in knowledge. A cross-sectional descriptive design
was used, employing a self-administered questionnaire
as the main data collection tool. More than559 higher
education students completed a questionnaire assessing
their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to HIV
and AIDS in Tanzania and Uganda. About three quarters
of respondents demonstrated comprehensive knowledge
about HIV and AIDS, and the majority of respondents
expressed positive attitudes towards people living with
HIV and AIDS. Despite demonstrating high knowledge level
about HIV and AIDS, the results show that sexual behaviours
among students in higher education are characteristically
risky, and do not significantly differ from youth in the general
population. The theoretical and practical implications of
these findings in relation to promoting protective sexual
behaviours among university students have been discussed.
Key Words
: HIV and AIDS, Tanzania, Uganda, Comprehensive
HIV and AIDS knowledge, higher education
e:
kitilam@udsm.ac.tzAssessment of HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among students in higher
education in Tanzania and Uganda
Kitila Mkumbo
and
Loyce Kobusingye
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
T
hirty years and still counting since the discovery of
one of the deadliest incurable disease we now know
as HIV/AIDS. A lot has been learnt about HIV including
the transmission dynamics and effective evidence-based
HIV prevention strategies. However, what still perplexes
scientists and researchers is how best to translate research
findings into effective HIV intervention programs. This
challenge is attributed to a number of factors including
exclusively defining HIV as a medical problem, reluctance
to use a multidimensional HIV intervention approach,
and lack of theory to guide HIV-interventions especially in
Africa where HIV is endemic. This has resulted into diverse
debates in the HIV-intervention scholarship. For example
Uganda is perceived as a success story in HIV prevention.
However some critics have questioned the accuracy of HIV
surveillance data. Additionally some authors are skeptical
about the use of strategies such as abstinence, being
faithful to one sexual partner and safe male circumcision in
circumstances where people have concurrent multiple sexual
relationships. On the other side condom use dual role as an
effective family planning method and protective measure
against STD contraction remains undoubted. Based on the
fact that HIV contraction in Uganda is largely through coitus
with an infected person, therefore there is need to focus on
interventions that have theoretical basis such as condom use
in addition to other strategies such as sex-education and life-
skills training in the appropriate cultural context.
HIV prevention strategies in Uganda: What we are yet to learn.
Joseph Ssenyonga
University of Mbarara, Uganda