Evaluation of HIV/AIDS awareness among students of higher institution in Central Middle Belt Nigeria

Abstract

The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS is alarming worldwide. A great percentage of those affected by this epidemic are young adults between the ages of 18-30. This is because of risky social behaviours exhibited by this selected group of people. Students in higher institutions are within this age bracket and they aren’t exempted from these behaviours. Previous research work has stated that there is a disconnect between peer educators and this target group in information and awareness about the disease. This research work seeks to identify what students know about HIV/AIDS, their source of information, quality of information, how the information has changed their lifestyle and their proffered mode of improving awareness. A questionnaire was designed for data collection, and a total number of 108 questionnaires were distributed randomly to students in Federal University of Technology Minna Bosso campus. Four out of the questionnaires distributed weren’t analyzed as information by respondents was inconclusive. The data was analyzed into frequency and percentages. The results from questions asked about what HIV/AIDS is, modes of transmission and prevention showed that there was a significant awareness about HIV/AIDS. Result also showed that the major source of information was the print media (50.96 %), then audiovisual media (28.85 %) and others (20.19%). The respondents (51.92%) rated the quality of information to be high moreover, 79.80% of the respondents also got information that improved their lifestyle and also equipped them to tell others. Areas of improved awareness include testing and routine re-testing with percentage as low as 51.92% for tested and 21% of the 51.92% have gone for a routine re-test. On this basis therefore, it is recommended that a department be set up at the school clinic for free testing, guidance and counseling and in addition, social network should be employed for awareness.