Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Secondary School Students Towards Reducing HIV/AIDS
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The major purpose of the study is to determine the knowledge, perception and attitude of senior secondary school students towards reducing HIV/AIDS The study specifically seeks to:
- Find out the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school students
- Determine the perception of senior secondary students towards people living HIV/AIDS.
- Determine the attitude of senior secondary school students towards reducing HIV/AIDS
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Literature related to this work will be reviewed under the following sub headings: conceptual framework, theoretical framework, empirical review and summary of literature review.
Conceptual framework
- Concept of knowledge
- Concept of perception
- Concept of attitude
- Concept of HIV and AIDS
- Concept of Adolescence
- Concept of Education
Theoretical Framework
- The Hunter’s Theory
- Theory of Planned Behavior
- Social Action Theory
Review of Empirical studies
- Senior Secondary School knowledge on prevalence of HIV/AIDS
- Students’ perception on reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS
- Attitude and Awareness of Students towards HIV/AIDS
Summary of Literature Review
Conceptual Framework
This section will review concepts of knowledge, perception, attitude, HIV/AIDS, adolescence and education
Concept of Knowledge
Knowledge is a social act (firestone and MCELroy, 2003). Knowledge is experience or information that can be communicated or shared (Christensen, 2001).knowledge seen as made up of data and information can be thought of as ,much greater understanding of a situation, relationship, causal phenomena and the theories and rules (both explicit and implicit) that underline a given domain or problem.
Knowledge is defined as what we know, knowledge involves the mental process by comprehension, understanding, learning that go on in the mind and only in the mind, however much they involve interaction with the world outside the mind and interaction with others (Wilson, 2002).
According to Wilson (2002), Knowledge can only be in the minds of people. Although not directly expressed the definition includes the empiricist (interaction with the world) and the rationalistic (‘’comprehension, understanding and learning’’) viewpoint on the creation of knowledge. However, it is not directly mentioned that knowledge claims need to be justified. Adding to his knowledge definition, Wilson (2002) says that knowledge is bound to the thinking structures of each individual and when they wish to share it theory compose messages which are then decoded by which the messages were altered.
Knowledge is human faculty resulting from interpreted information, understanding that germinates from combination of data, information, experiences and individuals interpretation. Variously defined as things that are held to be true in a given context and that drives us to action if there were no impediments (Andre Boudreau, 2012). ‘Capacity to act’ (Karl Sverby, 2001). says that people tend to seek knowledge as objects that can be identified and handled in information systems and tend to work technologically oriented fields such as computer and information science
Knowledge is a fluid mix of frame experience, values, contextual information and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. It originates and is applied in the minds of the knower. In organization, it often becomes embedded not only in documents or repositories but also in organizational routes, processes, practices and norms (Davenport and prusak, 1998). Knowledge is the awareness or understanding of a Circumstance or fact, gained through association or experience. In an organizational context, Knowledge is the sum of what is known and resides in intelligence and the competence.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine knowledge, perception and attitude of secondary school students toward reducing HIV/AIDS selected senior secondary schools in Uyo form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was on knowledge, perception and attitude of secondary school students toward reducing HIV/AIDS. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of knowledge, perception and attitude of secondary school students toward reducing HIV/AIDS.
Summary
This study was on knowledge, perception and attitude of secondary school students toward reducing HIV/AIDS. Three objectives were raised which included: Find out the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school students, determine the perception of senior secondary students towards people living HIV/AIDS and determine the attitude of senior secondary school students towards reducing HIV/AIDS. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The study adopted a survey research design and conveniently enrolled 80 participants in the study. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from secondary schools in Uyo. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
From the findings of the study, it was concluded that there is a significant improvement on the knowledge, perception and attitude of senior secondary school students
It is shown also that some students still have negative feelings about HIV/AIDS patients and finds it hard to relate or interact with people living with HIV and AIDS.
Recommendation
The following recommendations were made based on the findings, conclusions and implication of the study.
- Secondary school students should be exposed to sex education and be taught about sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).
- The study recommends that people especially hunters to avoid eating bush meats (chimpanzee, monkeys etc) because it contains SIVcpz (Simian immunodeficiency virus) found in chimpanzees which can be adopted to it host to become HIV-1.
- Curriculum planners need to implement peer education in the curriculum of secondary school students to enable students improve on their awareness and attitude towards reducing HIV/AIDS.
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