Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda

Introduction. HIV/AIDS remain a major public health problem in Uganda and 4% of individuals aged between 15 and 24 years are living with HIV. Few studies have examined HIV risk perception among adolescents in Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 379 secondary school students u...

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Main Authors: Charles Peter Osingada, Caroline Nabasirye, Sara Groves, Tom Denis Ngabirano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Advances in Public Health
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9864727
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author Charles Peter Osingada
Caroline Nabasirye
Sara Groves
Tom Denis Ngabirano
author_facet Charles Peter Osingada
Caroline Nabasirye
Sara Groves
Tom Denis Ngabirano
author_sort Charles Peter Osingada
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. HIV/AIDS remain a major public health problem in Uganda and 4% of individuals aged between 15 and 24 years are living with HIV. Few studies have examined HIV risk perception among adolescents in Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 379 secondary school students using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results. One hundred ninety-one (49.6%) of the respondents perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV, 174 (45.9%) had ever had sex, and 139 (80.4%) had first sexual encounter at 16 years or less. Only 49% of respondents who had sex within 12 months used a condom. Being older than 17 years, knowing someone who died of HIV, early sexual debut, and having ever had sex were associated with perceived risk of contracting HIV. After multivariate analysis, knowledge of someone who died of HIV (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 16, 95% CI 1.49–171.97) remained statistically significant. Conclusion. Many secondary school students perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV; this perception is associated with knowing someone who died of HIV/AIDS. There is a need to strengthen HIV risk reduction interventions in Wakiso secondary schools.
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spelling doaj-art-a7e7f1ec56bf41679da7e56277d65afd2025-08-20T03:38:48ZengWileyAdvances in Public Health2356-68682314-77842016-01-01201610.1155/2016/98647279864727Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, UgandaCharles Peter Osingada0Caroline Nabasirye1Sara Groves2Tom Denis Ngabirano3Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaMulago Hospital, P.O. Box 7051, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, UgandaDepartment of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaIntroduction. HIV/AIDS remain a major public health problem in Uganda and 4% of individuals aged between 15 and 24 years are living with HIV. Few studies have examined HIV risk perception among adolescents in Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 379 secondary school students using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results. One hundred ninety-one (49.6%) of the respondents perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV, 174 (45.9%) had ever had sex, and 139 (80.4%) had first sexual encounter at 16 years or less. Only 49% of respondents who had sex within 12 months used a condom. Being older than 17 years, knowing someone who died of HIV, early sexual debut, and having ever had sex were associated with perceived risk of contracting HIV. After multivariate analysis, knowledge of someone who died of HIV (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 16, 95% CI 1.49–171.97) remained statistically significant. Conclusion. Many secondary school students perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV; this perception is associated with knowing someone who died of HIV/AIDS. There is a need to strengthen HIV risk reduction interventions in Wakiso secondary schools.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9864727
spellingShingle Charles Peter Osingada
Caroline Nabasirye
Sara Groves
Tom Denis Ngabirano
Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
Advances in Public Health
title Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
title_full Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
title_fullStr Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
title_short Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Associated Factors among Secondary School Students in Wakiso District, Uganda
title_sort perceived risk of hiv infection and associated factors among secondary school students in wakiso district uganda
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9864727
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