THE IMPACT OF STUDENT LIFESTYLE IN SPEEDING OF HIV/ AIDS IN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and belief of undergraduate students toward HIV/AIDS in Zaria Education Zone of Kaduna state. In order to effectively execute this study, six hypotheses were formulated. The significant level of 0.05 was adopted to reject or accepts the hypotheses. The sample size consisted of five hundred students who were drawn from the three tertiary institutions in Zaria Education Zone. Data that were collected were analysed. Statistical methods employed in analysing the data were One way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and t-test, table were used for the data analysis. Percentages, Frequencies and Distribution were all employed in the data analysis. A “Knowledge, Attitude and Belief Questionnaire (KABQ) was designed by the researcher to collect data. The study revealed that non-significant difference exists between male and female students, resident and nonresident students as well as married and unmarried students in their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS. Also, significant difference exists between students in various academic levels and students from the three institutions understudy with regards to their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS. The study also shows that there is a relationship between students’ socio-economic status and their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS. It was recommended that students’ should take HIV/AIDS course and pass before graduating. This will give them sound information of the disease. School management should Mount Massive enlightens campaign; this would improve students’ knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS. Government and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) should invest vigorously on education by way of providing scholarship and loans/grants to students’, particularly those students’ from low socio-economic status, to enable them become self reliant through Income Generating Activities (IGA) in order to alleviate poverty which is the major cause of HIV/AIDS transmissions.

                                                                                                                      

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1           Background to the Study:

 For many years, there has been a great concern by the government of Nigeria on the future of the youth concerning

Human Immune Virus and Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and its related problems. HIV/AIDS pandemic is a huge scare, particularly in Africa and indeed Nigeria. However, what scare more are the apathy, indolence and indifference that some members of our society continue to show on the subject.

The rate at which it is increasing is very rapid and threatening. In fact, it presents the biggest health threat in this century. Lack of effective medication for the disease as at now is a threatening phenomenon to human race. According to the World Health Organization (1990), AIDS is ravaging the whole world. The number of full-blown AIDS cases in the world today is estimated at 2.3million.

Going by the World Health HIV/AIDS report (2000), it is on record that the youth age between 18-35 are the most vulnerable population hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and it’ is these youths who are the leaders in the next generation. The continue demise of the youths implies that Nigerians hope for the future is deeming.

The first AIDS case recorded in Nigeria was in 1986, (FMOH, 2004). Since then the number of HIV/AIDS cases has grown exponentially. By June 1999, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) recorded 26,276 AIDS cases. These passively reported cases represent only small fraction of the actual number of AIDS cases, most of which go unreported. According to Kuti (1988), many Nigerians have been tested positive to AIDS; he feared that the spread of the disease is mainly due to ignorance and unbelief.

He went further to say that, lack of conviction of the existence of AIDS on the part of some Nigerians has even made the case worse. Ten thousand persons are being infected by AIDS annually in Africa, the rate at which this epidemic move now have been multiplied by another hundred, said Fakeye (1989) in Nigeria

Medical Practitioner Journal reports. It is therefore obvious that Africa is the part of the world most seriously affected by the disease.

Over the years, HIV/AIDS has been causing daily agonies on humanity and threatening the future of the nation. It is against this background that this research was undertaken. The researcher’s choice of undergraduate youths is not arbitrary; this is because

AIDS is a disease to which youths are more susceptible. At this stage, many undergraduate youths want to expose themselves sexually and enjoy what they considered’ ‘campus freedom’ without adequate knowledge of the consequence of this disease when contacted.

 

1.2    Statement of the Problem

It has become obvious that conventional western attitudes towards sexuality and HIV/AIDS are inappropriate in the case of Africa, especially in proffering solution to the menace of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. One very important fact in the HIV/AIDS spread in Africa is the fact that unlike in Europe and America where the disease is known to be common among homosexuals and intravenous drug users, it is largely spread through heterosexual contacts and women are more vulnerable than men are. The extent to which prevailing gender relations exist shows that, it has not been adequately studied.

Tertiary institutions in Nigeria and world over are indeed tasked with the responsibility to train and prepare young professionals in various areas to give valuable contribution to the country’s economic development. However, HIV/AIDS and it related diseases are having a devastating impact on the available qualified Nigerians. This shows apparently that the long-term prospect is very bleak. New infection is increasing at an alarming rate. It is still the young ages 18-35 who are infected most (New Nigeria, 2004).  This age group occupies the tertiary institutions of higher learning in every country, including Nigeria. In Zaria the situation is that of fear among the adults while the youths are adamant to all preventive measures proffered. Some of them do not even believe in the existence of the disease not to talk about the effects it would have on them. This possibly explains why AIDS has been regarded as a disease of the youths who constitute the work force in any society. The rate of sexual interaction observed by the researcher motivates him into assessing students’ knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.

1.3. Objectives of the Study

                                The following stated objectives of the study are to determine:

1. Various levels   of         academics       concerning      student’s knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
2. The difference between married and unmarried students students on the level of knowledge, attitude and belief toward       HIV/AIDS.
3. The relationship of socio-economic status of students and their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
4. Gender difference on students’ knowledge, attitude and belief towards HIV/AIDS.
5. Knowledge, attitude and belief of students’ resident on campus and outside campus concerning HIV/AIDS.
6. Students’ from different institution; in knowledge, attitude and belief towards HIV/AIDS.

1.4    Research Questions

1. Is there any significant difference on the various levels of academics with regards to students’ knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS?
2. Does any difference exist between married and unmarried students level of knowledge, attitude and belief with regards to HIV/AIDS?
3. Is there any significant relationship between socio-economic status of students’ and their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS?
4. Does gender difference affect the level of knowledge, attitude and belief of students’ toward HIV/AIDS?
5. Does place of residence influence knowledge, attitude and belief of students’ on HIV/AIDS?
6. Do students’ from different institution differ significantly in their knowledge, attitude and belief towards HIV/AIDS?

 

1.5    Research Hypotheses

1. There is no significant difference among students’ of various level of academics (400L, 100L, HND II, OND I and NCE I) on their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
2. There is no significant difference between married and unmarried student on the level of knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
3. There is no significant relationship between students socioeconomic status and their knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
4. There is no significant difference between male and female students on the level of knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
5. There is no significant difference between residential and non-resident students, knowledge, attitude and belief toward HIV/AIDS.
6. Students’ from different institution do not differ significantly in their knowledge, attitude and belief towards HIV/AIDS.

 

1.6    Basic Assumptions

In this study, it is assumed that:

1. The youth have not been adequately exposed to the knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
2. Students belief affects their attitude toward HIV/AIDS.
3. No gender differences toward HIV/AIDS exist.
4. There exists no difference of students’ place of residence about knowledge, attitude and belief towards HIV/AIDS.

 

1.7    Significant of the Study

There is high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in our society and this is of great concern to the researchers, corporate organizations and government.

The study is significant because it hopes to provide data collected from the undergraduate youths themselves on what their beliefs are about the effects of the disease. The outcome of the investigation will provide parents counselors and health educators with the necessary data based information.

The study is also significant when considering the threatening; and danger posed by the spread of HIV virus on the population, and the daily agony it has brought on humanity in general and the labor force in particular.

Findings from this study will help change the ideas, attitudes and perception of the youths towards HIV/AIDS in our campuses. It can also be useful to planner, researchers for projection of the population. It can equally be of assistance to the University, government and Nigeria in general to find a lasting and best way of controlling the spread of this disease.

1.8    Scope and Delimitation

The study is essentially limited to undergraduate youths in three tertiary institutions in Zaria (Ahmadu Bello University, Federal College of Education and Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic). These three tertiary institutions are chosen because there is high concentration of the youths undergoing various academic pursuits; a true representation of what is expected will be gotten from them.

For several years, these tertiary institutions especially Ahmadu Bello University has served as a centre of learning for the northern region and indeed Nigeria as a whole. Over the years, people of different background from Nigeria have come to study in these institutions and some have permanently settled in Zaria. Hence, it has become very suitable place for some Nigerians in terms of adequate representations in all human endeavors.

THE IMPACT OF STUDENT LIFESTYLE IN SPEEDING OF HIV/ AIDS IN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

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