THE ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ON HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION PRACTICES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF GWASSI SOUTH SUB-COUNTY, HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA

ABSTRACT Background Homa Bay County HIV prevalence is the highest and 4.5 times the national prevalence. Young people aged 15-24 years account for 22% of this prevalence in the County. Majority of these young people are high school students, yet their knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk perception towards HIV prevention have not been unascertained. This could be one of the obstacles to HIV prevention in the county. Objective The study aimed at assessing HIV-related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAPs) of high school students in Homa Bay County. Methodology Survey was conducted among 260 systematically sampled students from 11 randomly selected schools in Gwassi South ward, Suba South sub-County, Homa Bay County. A head teacher or health master from each of the 11 schools was purposively sampled and took part in key informants’ interview about available strategies for HIV prevention. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. Proportion was used to determine knowledge, attitude, and risk perception among the students. Logistic regression was used determine association between knowledge, attitude towards HIV & AIDS and sexual practices. Results Majority (64%) of students had moderate to high knowledge on HIV & AIDS and exhibited positive attitude towards HIV & AIDS (61.1%). However, 15% to 25% of students reported to have engaged in a risky sexual practice. Higher to moderate knowledge had increased likelihood of positive attitude towards HIV and AIDS. Similarly, those with higher to moderate knowledge demonstrated lower risk sex practices. Moreover, students with negative attitude towards HIV & AIDS were 4 times more likely to have high risk sex practices. There were HIV & AIDS intervention strategies in secondary schools within Gwassi South Ward. Conclusion Knowledge and attitude of the students play a big role in their HIV risk perception as well as sex practices. Understanding knowledge, attitude, practice and intervention strategies of HIV and AIDS is significant in policy formulation by Ministries of Education, and leads to improved health-related practice by the Ministry of Health and researchers focusing on HIV and AIDS in high burden area.