AEGiS-13IAC: Knowledge, attitude and practice towards AIDS in Rwandan nursing students.

13th International AIDS Conference


Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

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Knowledge, attitude and practice towards AIDS in Rwandan nursing students.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrB184)

Uhagaze B, Sebaganji M, Rieger-Ndakorerwa G, Rahlenbeck S
B. Uhagaze, PO Box 3228, Kigali, Rwanda, Tel.: +250 640 65 / 8 513 884, Fax: +250 640 65, E-mail: buhagaze@yahoo.fr

BACKGROUND: The HIV-prevalence in Rwanda has risen dramatically over recent years; it was reportedly 11% in the general population in 1998. In 1999, AIDS-clubs have been then started in secondary, schools. The study was undertaken to evaluate the programs and to provide information for future AIDS educational measures.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) by means of a standardised questionnaire was conducted among students at a nursing school in Byumba, a semi-rural town in Rwanda.

RESULTS: There were 173 students participating (88%), of whom 141 were women and 32 men. Mean age was 20.2 years. Prior sexual experience was reported by 29 (21%) of females, and 20 (63%) of males; self-reportedly, 12 (7%) of students were currently sexually active. In general, knowledge on AIDS was good, with an average of 80% of questions answered correctly; male students had better knowledge than female students regarding transmission (p = 0.04) and prevention (p = 0.01) of the disease. Students who had participated in an AIDS Club scored significantly higher in the knowledge part and had a more positive attitude towards AIDS and HIV-positive individuals than students that had not yet participated in a club. Areas where the knowledge was less complete, included the transmission (or non -transmission e.g. by mosquitoes and/or shared glasses, etc) and the fact that infected people may be without symptoms and appear healthy.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that AIDS clubs did improve KAP of our students significantly; in additon, areas where our educational program can to be improved, were identified.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, HIV Infections, Students, Students, Nursing, Learning, Cross-Sectional Studies, Questionnaires, Sexuality, Prevalence, Memory, Rwanda, Human, Female, MaleKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,healthknowledge,attitudes,practice,hivinfections,students,students,nursing,learning,cross-sectionalstudies,questionnaires,sexuality,prevalence,memory,rwanda,human,female,male
000709
MoOrB184

Copyright © 2000 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.