Abstract:
This study was designed to determine the knowledge and attitude towards risk of acquiring HIV and use of voluntary counseling and testing in senior secondary schools Enugu. The study sought answers to five research objectives and tested five hypotheses. The population of the study consisted of one thousand, three hundred and fifty eight (1358) adolescent students. Sample size of four hundred and sixteen (416) senior secondary schools students in Enugu State were selected for the study; using stratified proportionate and simple random techniques. A validated researcher’s developed questionnaire consisting of Thirty seven (37) items questionnaire was the instrument used for the data collections. The instrument was validated by three experts and cronbach correlation reliability coefficient was used to determine the consistency of the instrument. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.78. Frequency counts, percentages, mean statistics and standard deviation were used to answer research objectives while five hypotheses were tested using student t-test and chi-square at 0.05 level of significance.
Findings revealed that a good number of the adolescents 359(66.1%), had poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS, the adolescents perceptions towards risks of acquiring HIV/AIDS was positive with frequency of 329(83.9%), attitude towards use of VCT was also positive with a means score > cut off point of 2.50, also the adolescent shows good use of VCT 208(53.1%). Significant relationship existed between knowledge and utilization of VCT services among students (p<0.05),There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS between male and female students There was no significant relationship (P>0.05) between adolescent’s perceptions towards risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS and use of VCT services, There was no significant relationship (P>0.05) between adolescent’s attitude and use of VCT services. There was no significant (P>0.05) gender difference in the utilization of VCT services among adolescents in Senior Secondary Schools in Enugu. There was no significant relationship between knowledge and utilization of voluntary counseling and testing services among adolescents. The study concluded that Adolescents in senior secondary schools Enugu have poor knowledge of HIV/AID, showed high perception towards risks of acquiring HIV/AIDS, Showed good attitudes towards used of VCT services. The study recommended that HIV/AIDS should be taught in class for young people like every other general subject in order to improve the knowledge, Adolescents should be provided with a VCT service at their schools, with trained peer educators to increase access to the same service for the school age population and Adolescents and parental VCT information sharing should be encouraged and strengthened, so that adolescents can learn from their parents without fear.
