Medicine, Health & Food
Volume: 154 , Issue: 1 , August Published Date: 15 August 2024
Publisher Name: IJRP
Views: 318 , Download: 45 , Pages: 321 - 335
DOI: 10.47119/IJRP1001541820247072
Publisher Name: IJRP
Views: 318 , Download: 45 , Pages: 321 - 335
DOI: 10.47119/IJRP1001541820247072
Authors
# | Author Name |
---|---|
1 | Rehab Faisal Badawi Wedatalla |
2 | Refga Siddig Abdelrhman |
3 | Razan Sharaf Eldein Elamein Hassan |
4 | Hiba Algaali Altayeb |
5 | Hassan I. Osman |
Abstract
Background: Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) studies regarding HIV/AIDS are one of the corner stones in the ongoing fight against the disease. Youths are most vulnerable to infection because they engage in risky practices due to a lack of adequate information. Thus, evaluating their KAPs will help in designing appropriate prevention strategies. This study was aimed at assessing the KAPs of Alzaeim Alazhari University students, Sudan, on HIV/AIDS. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 150 students aged 18–30years, selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected by a standardized structure questionnaire, from Feb to March 2020, to evaluate their KAPs regarding HIV/AIDS. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: All respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS. Sources of information varied, the most common being sex education in university. The majority of participants demonstrated an adequate understanding of HIV transmission and prevention. However, misconceptions about routes of transmission were observed in 23.3 % of respondents. Students with medium and high levels of knowledge were more likely to display positive attitudes. Although statistically not significant, we found that as knowledge increased the ability of respondents to report safer sex decreased (P = 0.922). Conclusion: Students had a satisfactory level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention. Those with adequate knowledge were more likely to display positive attitudes towards HIV. Having adequate knowledge did not imply engaging in safe practices. This study none-the-less highlighted some misconceptions about HIV transmission, intolerant and discriminatory attitudes towards HIV, and risky sexual practices among study participants which can be corrected by reinforcing sex education curriculum as sex education in school was their main source of information on HIV/AIDS.