The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV and AIDS of university in Zimbabwe using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate aim was to find out how at risk university students were of contracting HIV and AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was used, using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through systemic stratified random sampling resulting in 403 undergraduate university students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using SPSS version 21 software program. Most students were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV and AIDS and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Students also did show positive attitudes towards PLHIV. Most students did not perceive themselves to be at high of contracting HIV and AIDS. Up to 52% who were sexually active had more than one sexual partner. The respondents knew that HIV and AIDS were not treatable but continued to indulge in risky sexual behaviours. Most respondents received information about HIV and AIDS from the media and peers. The findings would assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of university students. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peer educators and university students, on whether the Peer Education-HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme has made an impact on the behavioural change of the recipients of the module as compared to the non-recipients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using stratified sampling design among peer educators and students to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peer educators and students. Participants were selected from Tshwane University of Technology campuses in Pretoria, Soshanguve and Ga-rankuwa. The study was conducted among 300 participants; 150 peer educators and 150 students. Informed consent was provided with each structured questionnaire. Findings and Discussion: Three quarters of the respondents in this study were females. This is consistent with many other studies of HIV/AIDS among students. The response rate in this study was 68% and was higher than the 45% of the Namibian Polytechnic students who participated in the KAP surveys of HIV/AIDS (De Beer et al., 2012). Mean knowledge levels of HIV/AIDS in this study were slightly higher among peer educators (92%) than among students (90%). Peer educators had more positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS than students in knowing someone who is HIV+ (78% vs. 67%) and sharing a desk with a PLHIV (97% vs. 95%). On whether HIV+ children should mix with others, attitude levels were the same (92% vs. 92%). Better practices were observed on peer educators vs. students - more peer educators (87%) than students (75%) said they always used a condom when they have sex. Conclusion and Recommendations: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of HIV/AIDS are high among peer educators and students at Tshwane University of Technology and it is recommended that the Peer Education-HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme at TUT should continue giving attention to changing attitudes and practices among peer educators and other learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die doel van die studie is om die kennis, houding en praktyke van Portuur Voorligters te assesseer, oor die vraag of die eweknie-opvoedkundige MIV/VIGS Voorkoming program 'n impak het op die gedrags verandering van die ontvangers van die module in vergelyking met die nie-ontvangers Metodes: 'n Deursnee-opname is uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van gestratifiseerde steekproefneming ontwerp onder eweknie-opvoeders en studente om die kennis, houding en praktyke van eweknie-opvoeders en studente te assesseer. Deelnemers is gekies uit die Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie kampusse in Pretoria, Soshanguve en Ga-Rankuwa. Die studie is gedoen onder 300 deelnemers, 150 portuuropvoeders en 150 studente. Ingeligte toestemming is voorsien met elke gestruktureerde vraelys. Bevindings en bespreking: Driekwart van die respondente in hierdie studie was vroulik. Dit is in ooreenstemming met baie ander studies van MIV/VIGS onder studente. Die reaksie in hierdie studie was 68% en hoër as die 45% van die Namibiese Polytechnic studente wat deelgeneem het aan die KAP opnames van MIV/VIGS (De Beer et al, 2012). Middel kennis vlakke van MIV/VIGS in hierdie studie was effens hoër onder eweknie-opvoeders (92%) as onder studente (90%). Eweknie-opvoeders in hierdie studie het meer positiewe houdings teenoor MIV/VIGS as studente in die kennis van iemand wat MIV + is (78% vs. 67%), die deel van 'n lessenaar met 'n PLHIV (97% vs. 95%) en of HIV + kinders moet meng met ander (92% vs. 92%). Beter praktyke is waargeneem op portuuropvoeders teen oor studente, meer portuuropvoeders (87%) as studente (75%) het gesê hulle het altyd 'n kondoom gebruik wanneer jy seks het. Gevolgtrekking en aanbevelings: Bewustheid, kennis, positiewe houdings en praktyke van MIV/VIGS is hoog onder eweknie-opvoeders en studente by die Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie en aanbevelings sal aangespreek word aan die einde van die studie.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to identify HIV/AIDS knowledge gaps and the factors which influence the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS, in relation to the sexual behavior of high school learners in Port St Johns Municipality. In order to do this, a close ended questionnaire was administered to 116 learners from three senior secondary schools in Port St Johns Municipality. Frequency table counts and percentages were used to describe HIV/AIDS knowledge, the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS and the risky sexual behaviors by learners. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used in the inferential analysis. From the data, it was clear that a significant proportion of learners had gaps in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Female senior secondary school learners were slightly more knowledgeable than their male counterparts, in that 60% of the female learners were correct in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, compared to 57 % of males. According to the data, 58 % of male high school learners correctly interpreted the perceptions of the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, compared to 56% of their female counterparts. These low percentages suggest that the high school learners have inadequate skills in interpreting the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS. Another finding was that 74 % of female learners do not engage in risky sexual behaviors which might lead to a contraction of HIV/AIDS, compared to 67 % of male learners. Male learners, as well as the female learners, had a Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient: r=0.522 for males and r= -0.268 for females, in terms of perceptions of risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS and engaging in risky sexual behavior. In other words, the results indicate that if males perceive the risks more acutely, they will not take such risks, whereas females are not easily influenced by the perceptions of risks and the way in which they behave. The study recommends that stakeholders of the schools craft HIV/AIDS programmes and policies that bridge the knowledge gaps and reduce or eliminate inaccurate perceptions of the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, so as to enable learners to adopt safer sexual behaviors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om gapings in MIV/Vigs kennis te identifiseer en die faktore wat die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV, met betrekking tot die seksuele gedrag van hoërskoolleerders in Port St Johns Munisipaliteit beïnvloed. Ten einde dit te doen, is 'n vraelys geadministreer onder 116 leerders van drie senior sekondêre skole in Port St Johns Munisipaliteit. Frekwensietabel-tellings en persentasies is gebruik om MIV/Vigs kennis te beskryf, die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV en die riskante seksuele gedrag deur leerders. Die Pearson Produk Oomblik korrelasie is gebruik in die inferensiële analise. Die data toon dat ‘n aansienlike persentasie van die leerders ‘n tekort aan kennis het rakende MIV/Vigs. Vroulike senior sekondêre leerders toon effens meer kennis as hul manlike eweknieë, 60% van die vroulike leerders korrek was in hul kennis van MIV/Vigs, in vergelyking met 57% van die mans. 58% van die manlike hoërskoolleerders het die persepsies van die risiko's van MIV/Vigs korrek geïnterpreteer, in vergelyking met 56% van hul vroulike eweknieë. Hierdie lae persentasies dui daarop dat die hoërskoolleerders onvoldoende vaardighede het in die interpretasie van die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV. Nog 'n bevinding was dat 74% van vroulike leerders nie betrokke is in riskante seksuele gedrag wat kan lei tot MIV-infeksie nie, in vergelyking met 67% van die manlike leerders. Manlike leerders, sowel as die vroulike leerders, het 'n Pearson Produk korrelasiekoëffisiënt: r = 0,522 vir mans en r = -0,268 vir vroue, in terme van die persepsies van risiko's van kontraktering van MIV/Vigs en betrokke te raak in riskante seksuele gedrag. Die studie beveel aan dat belanghebbendes van skole MIV/Vigs-programme en beleide ontwikkel wat die kennisgapings oorbrug en onakkurate persepsies verminder rakende die risiko van MIV-infeksie, met die doel dat leerder veiliger seksuele gerag sal toon.

The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV and AIDS of university in Zimbabwe using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate aim was to find out how at risk university students were of contracting HIV and AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was used, using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through systemic stratified random sampling resulting in 403 undergraduate university students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using SPSS version 21 software program. Most students were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV and AIDS and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Students also did show positive attitudes towards PLHIV. Most students did not perceive themselves to be at high of contracting HIV and AIDS. Up to 52% who were sexually active had more than one sexual partner. The respondents knew that HIV and AIDS were not treatable but continued to indulge in risky sexual behaviours. Most respondents received information about HIV and AIDS from the media and peers. The findings would assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of university students. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This paper describes the influence of body satisfaction, weight satisfaction, and BMI on sexual behaviors among female college students.

This study examines how African American gender scripts influence condom use for disease and pregnancy prevention. One-hundred African American California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) students were selected to participate in this study. Fifty African American males and fifty African American females were surveyed for this study to be representative of the African American community on campus.

This study identified pregnancy-related challenges encountered by student nurses at SAMHS Nursing College, with an aim of identify factors contributing to student nurses' pregnancies as well as finding ways to deal and minimize the rate of the pregnancies amongst the student nurses. Thirty (30) structured interviews were conducted with student nurses who were pregnant and those who delivered their babies during the period 2002 to 2007. It has been revealed that ignorance is the major contributing factor for student nurses' pregnancies, 63% of the pregnancies were not planned, 52% of the respondents related their pregnancies to risk taking as they engaged in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives, and thus it was concluded that student nurses are engaging themselves in risk behaviours and also engaging in unsafe sexual practices. The study also found that student nurses face physical, social, emotional as well as academic problems during pregnancy and after the delivery of their babies. Student nurses should be encouraged to use condoms and other methods of contraception, coupled with educating them on life skills, provision of recreational facilities; provision of counseling and support services may be the tool to minimise the unplanned pregnancies. / Health Studies / (M.A.(Public Health ))

This study identified pregnancy-related challenges encountered by student nurses at SAMHS Nursing College, with an aim of identify factors contributing to student nurses' pregnancies as well as finding ways to deal and minimize the rate of the pregnancies amongst the student nurses. Thirty (30) structured interviews were conducted with student nurses who were pregnant and those who delivered their babies during the period 2002 to 2007. It has been revealed that ignorance is the major contributing factor for student nurses' pregnancies, 63% of the pregnancies were not planned, 52% of the respondents related their pregnancies to risk taking as they engaged in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives, and thus it was concluded that student nurses are engaging themselves in risk behaviours and also engaging in unsafe sexual practices. The study also found that student nurses face physical, social, emotional as well as academic problems during pregnancy and after the delivery of their babies. Student nurses should be encouraged to use condoms and other methods of contraception, coupled with educating them on life skills, provision of recreational facilities; provision of counseling and support services may be the tool to minimise the unplanned pregnancies. / Health Studies / (M.A.(Public Health ))