TOPICAL ISSUE: HIV AND AIDS - IMPACT OF VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING AND HEALTH EDUCATION ON HIV PREVENTION AMONG SECONDARY
SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NORTHERN UGANDA
The study aim was to evaluate the impact of Voluntary Counselling and
Testing (VCT) and School Health Education (SHE) on HIV/AIDS related
knowledge, behaviours and risk perception among secondary school
students in Northern Uganda. A post-test only control group study was
conducted among 1,312 secondary school students classified as follows:
students involved in SHE and VCT (group 1); only in SHE (group 2); in
neither VCT nor SHE (group 3, control group). Almost all students are
aware of AIDS and condoms and how to prevent HIV infection: abstinence
and condom use were the most reported preventive measures. About 60% of
those in groups 2 and 3 were sexually active compared to 31% in group 1
(P<0.001). Students of group 3 had earlier sexual debut (median
age=15) than those in group 2 (median age=16) (P<0.001). No
significant differences in condom use with any type of partner were
observed, although students in group 2 were more likely to report
consistent condom use. Overall, two-third of the students say they do
not feel they are at risk of infection, but almost 70% of them reported
no reason. Despite considerable knowledge about AIDS, many students
engage in unprotected sex and re thus at risk of infection . Students
exposed to VCT and SHE seemed to have safer behaviour, suggesting that
these programs should be expanded and further research should be
conducted on the effects. SHE could be the appropriate method to reach
youth and their families in poor-resources settings, whereas VCT could
be the appropriate choice as part of a comprehensive service delivered
to the users