HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviour among Secondary School Students in Bwari Area Council of FCT-Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: This research examined those risk behaviors in HIV/AIDS disease: Using a descriptive cross-sectional research design a proportional cluster sampling method was adopted to randomly select three government, one private, and three hundred and sixty senior secondary school students as volunteers for the study. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages to answer research questions while unpaired student’s t test was used to test hypotheses. Although no significant difference existed between practicable and workable solutions towards combating HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bwari Area Council of FCT-Abuja (P>0.05):We were able to establish however that reduction of sexual partners and sexual abstinence have significant impact at combating HIV/AIDS epidemics in Bwari Area Council of FCT-Abuja (P<0.05). It also showed that knowledge of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors has negative impact on the student’s school attendance and achievement. This study concluded that knowledge and peer group influence contributed to HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among secondary school students in Bwari Area Council of FCT-Abuja. It was therefore recommended that Voluntary Testing Centers (VTC), Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and negative peer pressure reduction strict obligation and necessity in schools’ environments.