The quantitative study focuses on the perceptions of Nigerian adolescent students to HIV/AIDS and their attitudes to prevention methods. From the literature reviewed it was ascertained that adolescent students do have positive and optimistic perceptions of HIV/AIDS, and also adequate knowledge, but this has not translated into positive attitudes to prevention methods. The literature also indicated that peer group pressure, parental control and the mass media are some variables that probably influence adolescents’ sexual behaviour. This researcher developed the ‘Adolescent Students’ Perception of HIV/AIDS and Attitude to Prevention Methods Questionnaire’ to solicit information from the adolescent students. The results were coded and duly analysed. The results from the empirical study indicated that Nigerian adolescent students have positive perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS, as well as positive attitudes to prevention methods. Recommendations were made for curriculum experts, educators and parents based on current research methods. / Psychology of Education / Thesis (D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

MPH / Department of Public Health / Multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex and transactional sex are considered risky sexual behaviour worldwide and continue to pose risks of sexual transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy as well as increased termination of pregnancy amongst young people. The reported study was aimed at describing factors associated with risky sexual behaviour amongst students at Vhembe Technical Vocational Education and Training College. Within the quantitative paradigm, the study adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design to describe factors associated with risky sexual behaviour amongst students. The targeted population were all the registered students at Vhembe Technical Vocational Education and Training College, Mashamba Campus. Self-administered questionnaires with close ended questions were administered to 307 students whom were sampled using a simple random technique. Out of 307 students, 217(70.3%) were females and 90 (29.3%) were males. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0 was used to manage and analyse data. The study results revealed that demographic factors such as gender, age and sexual orientation contributed to students in engaging in risky sexual behaviour. A majority of the male students 64 (61.2%) were found to be having multiple sexual partners as compared to 107(54.2%) female students. Students aged 21-24 years 98(31.9%) were having multiple sexual partners. The study further revealed that sexual orientation contributes to students engaging in risky sexual behaviour. The students who reported that they were bisexual, gay or lesbian 33 (84.6%) were not using condoms. Environmental factors such as staying alone in a rental place contributed to students engaging in risky sexual behaviour. A majority 97(51.2%) of college students who were staying at a rental place were engaging in unprotected sex. In this study, socio-economic factors such as depending on National Financial Aid Scheme have been identified as the main driver of transactional sex. About 131(49%) students who depend on National Financial Aid Scheme reported were found to be prone to engaging in transactional sex. The study recommends that the Department of Health and Department of Education initiate strategies such as having a clinic inside the Technical Vocational Educational and Training College and peer educators to expand knowledge of students on risky sexual behaviour and on lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Condoms protect against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, among all population groups including adolescents. Correct use of condoms prevents between 80% and 95% of HIV transmission. Furthermore, the usefulness of condoms in preventing pregnancy or STIs rests on the user. Thus, the possibility of pregnancy or STI transmission is greater when condoms are not utilised appropriately and regularly with every sexual act. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of high school learners on the use of condoms in the Greater Giyani Municipality. A quantitative, descriptive research design was used. The researcher used a probability-stratified random sampling method to select respondents from schools that were selected to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions was used to collect data. The questionnaires were given to learners to complete. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used during data analysis. Data are presented in charts and frequency tables. Most of the respondents were aged 15-17 years (57.8%). There were more female than male respondents in the study and most respondents lived with both parents (14.9%). There were more respondents in Grade 12 (37.3%) than in other grades: 27.7% of the respondents were in Grade 10, while 35% were in Grade 11. Most of the respondents (88.7%) knew that condoms offer protection against HIV/AIDS, STIs and pregnancy, but many held negative attitudes towards condoms (56.5%) because they thought that condoms reduced pleasure during sexual intercourse. The majority (77.3%) of the respondents had engaged in sex, and half of these (50%) sometimes used condoms when they engaged in sexual intercourse. Male respondents were found to have power over xiii their partners on the making of decisions regarding condom use. Peer pressure was found to be one of the most significant factors that influenced condom use. Parents and guardians of the respondents were discovered to have communicated about sexual issues with their children. High school learners should be encouraged to refrain from using substances such as alcohol, because when they are under the influence of these substances and engage in sexual intercourse they can be unwilling to use condoms . / NRF

Le présent travail avait comme objectif principal d'identifier les déterminants de l'intention d'utiliser le condom lors des rapports sexuels avec un partenaire de statut sérologique inconnu ou séronégatif chez les immigrants africains et caribéens de première et deuxième générations, infectés du VIH au Québec. Il a porté sur 88 participants volontaires de la ville de Montréal et les données sociodémographiques, comportementales et les variables psychosociales ont été collectées à l'aide des questionnaires. L'intention d'utiliser le condom auprès de ces communautés africaine et caribéenne était très positive (4, 87 ± 0,45; sur une échelle variant de 1 sur 5). Les déterminants les plus significatifs étaient la perception du contrôle comportemental (PCC) et le regret anticipé (RA) avec des rapports de cote (RC) respectivement 4,6 et 6,2 entre ceux qui avaient une intention faible et ceux dont l'intention était élevée. L'analyse discriminante a également démontré que ces deux groupes différaient significativement sur toutes les barrières à l'utilisation du condom. Les plus importantes étaient le fait de diriger la relation pour qu'elle reste sécuritaire, le partenaire qui résiste à utiliser le condom et la peur de décevoir son (sa) partenaire. Ces résultats suggèrent que dans cette population il serait pertinent d'orienter les programmes de promotion de l'utilisation du condom sur le développement de l'efficacité personnelle et l'anticipation du regret.

This study’s purpose was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and condom use, and sexual behaviours among senior secondary school learners in Kumba, Cameroon using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate goal was to determine how at risk learners were of contracting HIV/AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was adapted; using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through proportionally stratified simple random sampling resulting in 480 (240 male and 240 female) grade 10 to grade 12 learners from two participating high schools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the SPSS version 12 software program. Most learners were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV/AIDS; and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Learners also manifested positive attitudes towards PLWHA. Most learners did not perceive themselves to be at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Up to 52,3% who were sexually active, only 30,0% used condoms consistently. The respondents knew about condoms, but had poor attitudes towards condom use. Most respondents received information on HIV/AIDS, condoms and sexuality from magazines/newspapers and teachers. The findings could assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of adolescents. The perceived barriers to condom use and modifying factors should be addressed into consideration in designing any policy geared towards controlling risk exposure to HIV/AIDS among youths in Kumba, Cameroon.

Antiretroviral drugs were introduced into Uganda during the past decade and have revolutionised the treatment of AIDS. However, in as much as success was recorded, new challenges emerged. One such challenge was the continued use of condoms. This study investigated existing knowledge, attitudes and practices of condom use in a time of highly active antiretroviral therapy in a rural area. A quantitative, cross sectional design, with probability sampling form the general population was utilised. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data which was then analysed at the descriptive statistics level. The results indicated that: knowledge of HIV, its transmission, condoms and antiretroviral drugs were high among the respondents; condom acceptance and use were low; and respondents would not intentionally engage in unprotected sexual intercourse because of availability of ARVs. However it was acknowledged that some people taking ARVs have engaged in risky sexual behaviours that would expose others to infection. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study is about evaluating the effectiveness of training in syndromic management ofSTDs. The purpose of this study was to fmd out to what extent the STD training programme had been implemented. A stratified sample of twenty-two primary health care clinics in the Port Shepstone region was used. Twenty-two professional nurses rendering STD management in the clinics were observed. Data-gathering was done through a clinic inventory obtained by interviewing the sister-incharge, observation of professional nurses providing treatment to STD patients, interviews with professional nurses to assess their knowledge of the syndromic approach, and exit interviews with patients treated at the clinic. The fmdings suggest that certain areas in the STD training need to be emphasized, such as vaginal speculum and bi-manual examinations. It is recommended that certain negative aspects which hinder effective STD management, like staff shortages and lack of equipment be given attention. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

descriptive correlational study aiming at describing the knowledge, attitude and risk behavior of adolescents in relation to HIV/AIDS in one “girls only” Catholic school of Manzini. Structured self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 260 respondents aged 12 to 19 years. Although only 22.31% respondents indicated been tested for HIV, (83.08%) would like to take an HIV test. Hospital and clinic are mostly known by respondents for providing HIV testing. Most respondents expressed lack of confidence in getting partners wear condoms. 16 (6.15%) have engaged in sex and 5 (6.10 %) were raped. No statistically significant difference was noted between condom use during sexual intercourse for both participants who were raped and those who consented to sex (P value = 0.6538). Future youth health programs should focus on building confidence of youth in accessing condom, discussing condom issues with their partners and make their partners wear condoms / Health Studies

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Theological positions are usually considered as coterminous with ethical considerations. That which the Church has earnestly considered in the light of what is believed to be God's will, as elucidated in religious texts and through prayerful contemplation, are considered to be ethical without contradiction. Recently the Roman Catholic Church adopted a position forbidding the use of condoms as protection from contracting HIV/AIDS. Instead, the Church has declared that the way to controlling the AIDS pandemic is via sexual abstinence for the unmarried and sexual faithfulness within marriage. It is acknowledged that it is not possible for all the church's theological positions to be driven by pragmatic concerns within society. Nor can a church easily be seen to be promoting sex outside of marriage by recommending the indiscriminate use of condoms. However, the Roman Catholic Church, by forbidding the use of contraception, puts itself in an ethically questionable light relative to other Christian churches. The Catholic Church needs to reconsider its stance on contraception from first principles, divorced from dogmatic beliefs and practices which were derived by men and which have endured beyond their usefulness or theological veracity. It is evident that a church should not adhere to dogmas that are ungodly in their impact and ethically questionable in their import. If a church needs to revise its dogmatic stance on such issues, it should have the courage to do so. This research considers whether the stance of the Catholic Church on condoms can be considered ethical. The position of the Catholic Church is considered critically from a variety of philosophical, empirical and ethical viewpoints. In so doing, it highlights the principled and practical problems of resolving differing moral positions that cross the religious and secular divide. The approach adopted is one of an applied ethical nature, given the probable effects of participating in unprotected sex. Pregnancy and contracting HIV/AIDS are the likely outcomes of not using condoms, and these conditions will create enormous problems for the individual concerned, her, or his, family, as well as for the greater society. The position taken in this research is that the Catholic Church's stand on abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage, as the answer to the HIV/AIDS crisis, would be a realistic ethical position, if, and only if, it was at all feasible and realisable in practice. However, it is the contention of the author, based on empirical considerations, that the idealistic stance taken by the Catholic Church is out of touch with the realities in our contemporary South African society and is doomed to failure. Given this perspective, the Catholic stance is morally questionable, as, if sexual relationships continue to occur outside of marriage, and if condoms are not used, the result will be unwanted pregnancies, HIV infections of both mothers and their babies, crises for families and society at large, and ultimately widespread death from AIDS. Given the pandemic facing South Africa, the Catholic position in banning the use of condoms, is ethically questionable and morally suspect. The Church needs to be called to account for the implications of its dogmatic stance. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is simply too serious for a public institution, such as the Catholic Church, to be involved in perpetuating theological niceties and holding idealised positions. The Church is not divorced from the society it exists in and a realistic, responsible and accountable response is needed in the current context of hundreds of thousands of persons facing death from AIDS and its related diseases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teologiese standpunte word gewoonlik beskou as gelyktermig met etiese oorwegings. Dit wat die Kerk met erns beskou het word sonder weerspreking as eties aanvaar in die geloof dat dit die wil van God is wat belig word in religieuse geskrifte en deur gebedsoordenking. Onlangs het die Rooms-Katolieke Kerk 'n standpunt aanvaar wat die gebruik van kondome verbied as beskermingsmiddel teen MIV/VIGS-besmetting. Daarteenoor het die Kerk verklaar dat die VIGS-pandemie beheer moet word via seksuele weerhouding vir ongetroudes en seksuele getrouheid binne die huwelik. Daar word toe gegee dat dit nie moontlik is om al die die kerk se teologiese standpunte aan pragmatiese kwellinge binne die gemeenskap te onderwerp nie. Daarmee saam kan die kerk ook nie buite-huwelikse seks aanmoedig deur aan te beveel dat kondome onoordeelkundig benut word nie. Relatief tot ander Christelike kerke plaas die Rooms- Katolieke Kerk homself egter in 'n etiese bevraagtekenbare posisie deur die gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels te verbied. Die Katolieke Kerk behoort sy standpunt oor geboortebeperking te heroorweeg in die lig van primêre prinsiepe - geskei van dogmatiese oortuigings en bedrywe wat deur mense bedink is en wat hulle bestaansreg as nuttigheid of teologiese waarheid oorskrei. Dit is duidelik dat 'n kerk nie dogmas behoort aan te hang wat onverantwoord in haar impak en eties bevraagtekenbaar in hulle belangrikheid is nie. Indien 'n kerk sy dogmatiese standpunte oor sulke sake moet hersien, behoort dit die moed te hê om dit te doen. Hierdie navorsing skenk oorweging aan die vraag of die Katolieke Kerk se standpunt oor kondome as eties beskou kan word. Die posisie van die Katolieke Kerk word krities beskou vanuit 'n verskeidenheid filosofiese, empiriese en etiese standpunte. Dit verlig die beginsels en praktiese probleme wat verband hou met die resolusie van die verskillende morele posisies wat die kloof tussen die religieuse en sekulêre moet oorbrug. Die benadering wat benut word is van 'n toegepas etiese aard, gegewe die waarskynlike gevolge van deelname aan onbeskermde seks. Swangerskap en besmetting met MIV /VIGS is die waarskynlike resultate indien kondome nie benut word nie. Dit lei gevolglik tot enorme probleme vir die betrokke individu, familie en die breër samelewing. Die aanspraak van hierdie navorsing is dat die Katolieke Kerk se standpunt - dat weerhouding van seks voor die huwelik en getrouheid binne die huwelik as antwoord dien vir die MIV /VIGS krisis - 'n realistiese etiese posisie verteenwoordig indien, en slegs indien, dit toepasbaar en haalbaar binne die praktyk is. Dit is egter die bewering van hierdie skrywer, gebaseer op empiriese oorwegings, dat die idealisriese standpunt van die Katolieke Kerk uit voeling is met die realiteite van ons kontemporêre Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing en dat dit gedoem is tot mislukking. Gege hierdie perspektief, word dit duidelik dat die Katolieke standpunt moreel verdag is, veral as in gedagte gehou word dat - indien seksuele verhoudings buite huweliksverband voortduur en kondome nie gebruik word nie - die resultaat onbeplande swangerskap, MIV besmetting van beide moeders en babas, krisisse vir families en die samelewing en uiteindelik wydverspreide sterftes as gevolg van VIGS sal wees. Gegewe die pandemie wat Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar word die Katolieke standpunt waarin die gebruik van kondome verbied word eties bevraagtekenbaar asook moreel verdag. Die Kerk moet tot verantwoording geroep word vir die implikasies van sy dogmatiese standpunt. Die MIV /VIGS'pandemie is eenvoudig te ernstig vir 'n openbare instansie soos die Katolieke Kerk om betrokke te bly in die voorsetting van teologiese kieskeurigheid en die verkondiging van geïdealiseerde standpunte. Die Kerk is nie los van die samelewing waarbinne dit bestaan nie en 'n realistiese, verantwoordelike en toerekenbare respons word benodig binne die huidige konteks waarbinne honderde duisende mense dood as gevolg van VIGS in die gesig staar.

This study’s purpose was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and condom use, and sexual behaviours among senior secondary school learners in Kumba, Cameroon using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate goal was to determine how at risk learners were of contracting HIV/AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was adapted; using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through proportionally stratified simple random sampling resulting in 480 (240 male and 240 female) grade 10 to grade 12 learners from two participating high schools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the SPSS version 12 software program. Most learners were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV/AIDS; and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Learners also manifested positive attitudes towards PLWHA. Most learners did not perceive themselves to be at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Up to 52,3% who were sexually active, only 30,0% used condoms consistently. The respondents knew about condoms, but had poor attitudes towards condom use. Most respondents received information on HIV/AIDS, condoms and sexuality from magazines/newspapers and teachers. The findings could assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of adolescents. The perceived barriers to condom use and modifying factors should be addressed into consideration in designing any policy geared towards controlling risk exposure to HIV/AIDS among youths in Kumba, Cameroon.