Perception of students on the awareness and preventive strategies of hiv/aids among University students in Ugandan. .

Abstract

Abstract Uganda has been known to have HIV/AIDS epidemic higher than the African average. Government and all stakeholders therefore continuously make numerous efforts in a bid to reduce the spread of the menace. Distribution of condoms and public awareness among youth are among the many strategies used to curb HIV/AIDS in Uganda. It was on this note that this study sought to find out the perception of students on the awareness and the preventive strategies of HIV/AIDS in religious founded universities in Uganda. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the extent to which demographic indices of the IUIU and UCU students influence their knowledge of transmission and protection against HIV/AIDS, to find out the perception of IUIU and UCU students about preventive strategies on HIV/AIDS, to examine IUIU and UCU students’ perception on factors that could influence the spread of HIV infection in the campuses. The study adopted descriptive cross-sectional research design. Two hundred and forty nine students and one hundred and fifteen students were selected from IUIU and UCU respectively via simple random sampling. Similarly, seven counselors and two counselors were purposively selected from IUIU and UCU respectively. Percentages and chi-square were used to present and analyze the collected data,. Findings from this study showed that students demographic indices strongly affect their knowledge of transmission and protection against HIV/AIDS therefore, it was found that the factors which influences the spread of HIV/AIDS in campus include; religions activities that moderate students interaction, sexual harassment and poor policies on HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. It was finally recommended that public sensitization and awareness should be intensified, and more appropriate policies on HIV/AIDS testing and counseling should be enacted