Behavioural change towards HIV/AIDS prevention among the youths in Mbeya district, Tanzania
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Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a global phenomenon. The government of Tanzania developed different
strategies and policies in an attempt to reduce the spread of the HIV/AIDS such as
The National HIV Prevention Strategy and TACAIDS. However, there is slow
behavioural
change
among the youths
in
relation
to
intervention
conducted.
This study assessed factors affecting behavioural change towards HIV/AIDS prevention
among youths in Mbeya District. Specifically, the study aimed at determining the level of
knowledgc/awareness of HIV/AIDS in relation to behavioural change. The study also
determined youths’ attitude towards HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and determined
factors affecting youths’ behavioural change
in the prevention
of HIV/AIDS.
A cross sectional design was adopted using closed and open ended questions administered
to 120 respondents. Focus Group Discussions as well as key informant interviews were
held to collect qualitative data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version
18 was used to analyze the data. Data collected were analyzed descriptively and
knowledge index scale was used to measure the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS
prevention strategies. Attitude of youths towards HIV/AIDS prevention strategies in
relation to behavioural change was measured by Likert scale. Ordinal logistic regression
was used to analyze factors affecting behavioural change towards HIV/AIDS prevention
strategies. The findings indicate that the youth had high knowledge on HIV/AIDS.
Majority of youths had reported to have positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS prevention
strategies. Age, marital status, religion, peer influence, separation of parents had
significant relationship to behavioural change. The study recommends for Policy makers
and development program implemented to take these limitations into account, especially
when selecting strategies to implement in concert with specific behavioural strategies so as
to reduce the HIV/AIDS infection.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Behavioural change, HIV/AIDS transmission, HIV/AIDS prevention