Knowledge and attitude among late adolescents (16-19 years old) toward human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 7
Abstract
Background: Inadequate knowledge, negative attitude, and risky practices are major hindrances to preventing the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Objective: This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude among late adolescents (boys and girls) 16-19 years old toward HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on unmarried adolescents (boys and girls) 16-19 years old toward HIV/AIDS was conducted in 2014 to evaluate their knowledge and attitude. Data were collected by self-filled questionnaire. We selected 400 adolescents (divided into 200 boys and 200 girls) through random sampling from different shopping malls in one province of Al-Khobar Saudi Arabia. Results: The majority of adolescents (39.2%) have heard about HIV through the media, but 11% answered that they never heard about it. Constituting a small percentage of male and female participants did first heard about HIV in the school. The majority of respondents think that 1/100 of people in their area is infected with HIV. Most of the participants know that HIV is a virus but 13.0% do not know. Nearly half of the adolescents do not know that “the immune system is the main system that gets the infection by HIV.” More than 60% of the adolescents do not like to test themselves for HIV if they are at high risk, and would avoid any contact with an HIV infected patient. Conclusions: We found lack of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS, its transmission and means of preventing it among adolescents. Negative attitudes to HIV/AIDS and risky practices were also present. Educational programs with specific interventions are recommended to increase knowledge and attitude practices and to prevent new HIV infections among adolescents in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Authors and Affiliations
Ahmed Taher Bokhamseen, Fahd Muhammad Alotabi, Saleh Abdulrahman Alajlan, Maan Ahmed Alsaaid, Talal Yousef Alwahhabi, Saeed Khalil Bin Jabal, Bader Tharwi Alshammari, Randah Fahad Alsallum, Nouf Muhammad Musa
Keywords
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- EP ID EP317633
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2017.0408907052017
- Views 67
- Downloads 0
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