In this study, the researcher is interested in the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention
methods among university students. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that
influence the utilization of existing HIV/AIDS prevention methods amongst students at
the University of KwaZulu-Natal residing in a selected campus. Four residences within
the selected campus were randomly selected and participants were conveniently selected
from each of sampled residences. There was a total of 335 respondents and 261 (78%)
completed the manual questionnaires while 74 (22%) completed online questionnaires.
The study used quantitative approach and was descriptive-exploratory in nature. Data was
analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.
The majority of respondents were young people with the mean age of 22.9 years. The
sample comprised 278 (78%) undergraduate and 57 (17%) post graduate students. Study
findings showed that the factors which influenced the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention
methods varied and that they were mainly influenced by the awareness of the existing
university-based HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. It also emerged that the mostly utilized
HIV prevention methods were VCT services and free condoms. Perceived susceptibility
and the perceived threat of HIV/AIDS score was also found to be correlated with HIV
Risk Index score. Furthermore, there was Correlation between perceived susceptibility
and perceived threat of HIV/AIDS and self-efficacy on condoms and their utilization.
However, there seemed to be no relationship between utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention
methods and these variables.
In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that most of Health Beliefs Model
(HBM) variables were not predictors of the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods
among students. Intervention aiming to improve the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention
methods among students at the UKZN should focus on removing identified barriers,
promoting HIV/AIDS prevention services and providing correct knowledge on HIV for
behavioral change. / Thesis (MN)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/913 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Ndabarora, Eleazar. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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