dc.contributor.author | Wambua, Elizabeth W | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-06-06T08:57:02Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-06-06T08:57:02Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2001 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Wambua, e.W(2001). Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about STD/HIV/Aids education among primary and secondary public school teachers in Nairobi and Machakos districts, Kenya | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/29058 | |
dc.description | Master of Public Health Thesis | en |
dc.description.abstract | Children aged less than 15 years comprise 50% of Kenya's population while
adolescents aged 10-19 years are 20% of the total population. Youth between 10-14
years comprise the population that is relatively free of AIDS and is in many ways ''The
Window of Hope" for Kenya and indeed the region of Sub-Saharan Africa (1). Protecting
these children and adolescents from HIV infection is therefore the most important
strategy for slowing the HIV epidemic. Majority of the youth aged 10-19 years attend
school. Therefore, STD/HIV/AIDS education in schools is an important preventive
strategy. Teachers are important role models for the youth and can teach the youth how
to avoid being infected with STDs and HIV. All available means possible to combat the . .
spread of HIV and STDs among the youth should be undertaken urgently otherwise
Kenya'S plan to become an industrialised nation by the year 2020 may be hampered.
Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya and Machakos district were chosen as the study areas.
Nationally the HIV prevalence rate was 14% in 1998, while it was 16% and 12% in
Nairobi and Machakos districts, respectively. Nairobi is a densely populated urban
centre with approximately two million inhabitants and almost 70% of school-age children
are enrolled in schools. On the other hand, Machakos district consists of a mixture of
rural and peri-urban populations. It had an estimated population of about 906,444
people by end of 1998. A total of 5,718,244 primary pupils were enrolled in Kenyan
schools in 1996. Of these, 233,006 pupils and 152,618 pupils were enrolled in primary
schools in Machakos district and Nairobi" district, respectively. This difference was due
to the fact that Machakos district had more Primary schools than Nairobi District.
This was a cross-sectional survey in which both quantitative and qualitative methods of
data collection were used. It was hoped that this study would shed light on teachers'
knowledge attitude and beliefs concerning STD/HIV/AIDS education in primary and
secondary schools in Kenya. A total of 674 teachers from 57 schools in the two districts
cited above were interviewed by means of a self-administered structured questionnaire
to assess their Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs about STD/HIV/AIDS education. Focus
group discussions and In-depth interviews were carried out for the qualitative data
collection exercise.
The findings revealed that majority of the teachers had adequate knowledge on
STD/HIV/AIDS but a substantial proportion of them had some misconceptions about
HIV transmission. Teachers' STD/HIV/AIDS knowledge was statistically associated with
their age and academic qualifications. Almost 30% of teachers were unsure of the
government's policy concerning AIDS education to schools. Teachers had positive
attitudes towards the introduction of STD/HIV/AIDS education and recommended upper
primary as the class and 10-12 years as the age to introduce it. Teachers cited lack of
training on STD/HIV/AIDS, the stigma associated with AIDS, the government's lack of
commitment and inadequate teaching materials as hindrances to the STD/HIV/AIDS
education.
This study concluded that a substantial proportion of teachers (34.3%) do not have
adequate knowledge on STD/HIV/AIDS.-Therefore, in-service training on STD/HIV/AIDS
should be given to teachers. Specific IEC materials e.g. books and pamphlets for
teachers should be availed in schools to improve their knowledge on STD/HIV/AIDS.
An evaluation of the existing STD/HIV/AIDS curriculum will need to be carried out in the
next one or two years to determine its impact on students STD/HIV/AIDS knowledge
and behaviour. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.subject | Knowledge | en |
dc.subject | Attitudes | en |
dc.subject | Beliefs | en |
dc.subject | STD/HIV/AIDS | en |
dc.subject | Education | en |
dc.subject | Primary and secondary Public Schools | en |
dc.subject | Teachers | en |
dc.subject | Nairobi | en |
dc.subject | Machakos Districts | en |
dc.subject | Kenya | en |
dc.title | Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about STD/HIV/Aids education among primary and secondary public school teachers in Nairobi and Machakos districts, Kenya | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |
local.publisher | Department of Community Health, University of Nairobi | en |