56

角井信弘

特集：合同臨地訓練
Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDSamong students and teachers
Ndegwa DM1), Wangechi LK2), Makohaa A3), Kijungu M4), Nyongesa J5),
Nkonge C6), Osawa N7), Osaki Y8), Muthwii, SM9)

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES; To determine knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDS among studentsand teachers.
STUDY AREA; Four Primary and one Secondary school in Riruta location of Nairobi Province ofKenya
STUDY DESIGN; It was a cross-sectional study design.
SUBJECT; Seventy teacheers were sampled from the school. Sixty-two students were sampled fromthe school. Therefore total number of subjects was one hundred and thirty two.
The sampled students were those in classes 6 and 7 in 4 primary schools. Response rate was 100%.
Simple random sampling was used. Study period was 9 August through 30 November, 1999.
MAIN RESULTS; Knowledge about HIV/AIDS was found to be 100% for students and teachers.
Knowledge and application of preventive measures for the patients’ care was found to be 80% among
teachers and 50% among the students. 50% of the students and 80% of the teachers had appropriate.
CONCLUSION; Whereas most students aand teachers have some knowledge about HIV/AIDS, there
is a room for improvement on the attitues and preventable practices.
Key words; knowledge, attitude, practices, HIV, AIDS, students, teachers.

INTRODUCTION
Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is aserious problem in Kenya and indeed in the entire subSaharan Africa. It had by mid 1990’s surpassed bothmeasles and malaria to become the second leading causeof child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
In July 1994, the world Health Organization estimatedthat the world wide cumulative figures for those infectedwith human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was, 16
million adults and 1 million children, the majority ofwhom lived in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Kenya, the AIDS pandemic has caused many
problems like health care delivery expenses, upsurge inincidences of pulmonary tuberculosis due to lowered1）Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nairobi,KMTC, P.O. Box 30195, Nairobi, Kenya
2）Department of Nursing, Thika MTC.
3）Department of Nursing Eldoret MTC.
4）Department of Clinical Medicine Nairobi KMTC
5）Department of Nursing Kabarnet MTC

immunity, increased mortality rate, social problems like
AIDS orphans etc.
Of the 5.8 million people infected with HIV this year 4
million live in sub-Saharan Africa.
The predominant means of transmission in sub-SaharanAfrica is hetero sexual, accounting for ninety percent ofthe cases.
Prevention of new cases of HIV infection in the youth
and adolescents is crucial in the control of this epidemic,
hence the authors’ target for school teachers asimportant health message disseminators.
In 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) assertedthat people width enough knowledge on HIV/AIDSstood a better chance of preventing themselves against
the same than those without knowledge. This was6）Department of Medical Eduction, KMTC, Nairobi
7）Chief advisor, KMTC/JICA project8）JICA short term expert, Tottori University, Japan9）Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Nairobi,Kenya.

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Ndegwa DM, Wangechi LK, Makohaa A, et al.

supported by Blood (1993) who in a study carried out inGlasgow concluded that vulnerability to HIV/AIDS wasassociated with the individual's knowledge of disease.
This is in conformity with aims of the authors.
HIV/AIDS infection rate is also accelerated by people’s
attitudes as reported by the World Council of Churches
through a study carried out in India (WCC 1994). The
study revealed that 80% of the people had elementaryknowledge about HIV/AIDS but had wrong attitudes
towards it. This is in line with the authors of this report
whose aim was to assess not only attitudes but
knowledge and practices among teachers and students.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Although almost everyone in Kenya has heard about
HIV/AIDS and konw that AIDS virus transmitted
primarily by sexual intercourse, cases of HIV/AIDS areincreasing.
This raises an important issue as to who is the best
suited people or professionals to be utilized in thedissemination of information on the preventive measures.
This is why the authors focused on teachers andstudents.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The authors sought to establish the amount and qualityof knowledge the teachers and students had on
HIV/AIDS preventive measures. This would form thebasic of the preparation of teachers as capabledisseminators of information on HIV/AIDS preventive
measures to students. Previous reports have shown thathaving knowledge about HIV/AIDS is important toprevent HIV infection and to have appropriate attitude
towards people with HIV especially among adolescents.
ABBREVIATIONS
S.T.I…………Sexually Transmitted Infections
NASCOP …Kenya National AIDS Control Programs.
NCPD ………National Council for Population andDevelopment
AMREF ……African Medical and Research Foundation.

MATERIAL AND METHODSRESEARCH METHOD
It was a cross-sectional study design, chosen because thearea was very diverse.
STUDY POPULATIONThis was made up of students in classes six and seven infour primary schools and form three students in one
secondary school. It also consisted of teachers withspecial duties in the five schools. The total number ofsubjects was five houndred.
STUDY AREA
This was Riruta Location of Nairobi province of Kenya.

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Riruta Location lies South-west of Nairobi. Politically it isDagoreti constituency while administratively it is inDagoreti Division. It is a rural-urban set-up with apopulation of 65,000 according to a 1992 population
estimate. The area is densely populated. Residential
structures are basically slum-like with mixture ofpermanent and semi-permanent houses.
Ethnic composition is diverse with almost all Kenya
tribes being represented. In addition, there areforeigners from Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda and Tanzania.
There are several health facilities with one city council
Health center and several private health institutions.
There are four public primary schools and several
private ones. There is one public secondary school.
The area has one administrative chief and threeassistance chiefs.
STUDY SAMPLE
The total number of standards six and seven students inthe four primary schools and form three students in one
secondary school was 360.
The total number of teachers in the five schools was140.
Therefore the target population consisted of 500
subjects.
SAMPLE SIZE
This was made up of 62 students from the four primaryand one secondary school, and 70 teachers from theschools.
Sample size was therefore made up of a total of 132
respondents.
SAMPLING METHOD
Simple random sampling was used to select respondents.
SURVEY PERIOD
Data was collected in six days by fiveresearachers/authors.
RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
Interview schedules and semi-structured questionnaires
were used.
CONTENTS OF THE QUESTIONAIRES AND
INTERVIEW SCHEDULES
The following information was sought from therespondents using the questionnaires and interview
schedules;
1．Personal characteristics
2．Percentage of the students
3．Course of AIDS
4．Sources of information on HIV/AIDS
5．Predisponsing factors to HIV/AIDS infection
6．HIV/AIDS preventive methods
7．Signs of AIDS
8．Role of teachers in HIV/AIDS
9．Care of AIDS patients

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Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDS among students and teachers

Table 2-b SIGNS OF AIDSPLAN FOR DATA ANNALYSIS
Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze thedata.

RESULTS
1）SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OFRESPONDENTS
Total number of teachers=70
Total number of students=62

SIGNS

TEACHERSSTUDENTS

Weight loss

73%

60%

Fever

30%

15%

Diarrhea

40%

13%

Others

94%

95%

COMMENTS
1. Majority of the respondents i.e. 98.6% of teachers and98.4% of students knew that HIV caused AIDS.
2. Majority of the respondents knew the signs of AIDS.

Table 1-a Respondents’ gender distribution
TEACHERSNUMBER

PROPPRTIONFemales

5071.4%Males

2028.6%3）ATTITUDES OF TEACHERS TOWARDS HIV/AIDSTABLE 3
ATTITUDE

STUDENTSPROPORTION

Males

4166.1%

Use of projection

Females2032.3%Faithfulness to spouse60%

Non-respondents

11.6%

Taking care of AIDS orphan

72.9%

80%

COMMENT
Table 1-b RESPONDENTS AGES IN YEARSTEACHETSNUMBERPROPORTIONBELOW 2500%

25 TO 506998.6%

ABOVE 50

11.4%

12 TO 153353.2%16 TO 182540.3%

ABOVE 19

46.5%

Correct attitudes towards AIDS.

4）PRACTICES TOWARD HIV/AIDSTABLE 4-aSTUDENTS

PROPORTION

COMMENTS
1. Female teachers were more than male teachers.
2. Male students were more than females.
3. Most students were below 18.

PRACTICETEACHERSSTUDENTS

Taking care of AIDS patients

80%—Counseling30%—

Teaching about HIV/AIDS

30%—

Abstinence

50%

100%

COMMENTS

4. Most teachers were of the ages 25 to 50.

1 Majority of the teachers (80%) had taken care of AIDSpatients.
2 Students had no practice towards HIV/AIDS by all(100%) abstained from sexual intercourse.

2）KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV/AIDS

Table 2-a CAUSES OF AIDSTEACHETSNUMBER

PPROPORTION

Mosquito bite

11.4%

HIV

6998.6%STUDENTS
Mosquito

11.6%

biteHIV

6198.4%

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Ndegwa DM, Wangechi LK, Makohaa A, et al.
TABLE 4-b TEACHING ABOUT HIV/AIDS(BY TEACHERS)FREQUENCYPROPORTION

Daily

12.9%

Weekly27.1%

Monthly

27.1%

Yearly32.9%

COMMENTS
Teachers discussed issues of HIV/AIDS with their students
very rarely.

DISCUSSION
This study revealed that 97% of the respondents wereaware of AIDS and same proportion knew the causative
agent of the disease.
In spite of this fact, HIV/AIDS pandemic continues todevastate population in the developing world particularlyin Sub-Saharan Africa (AIDS Care 1999).
The study also revealed that most respondents
associated HIV/AIDS with loose morals and thought that
abstinence was the best method of preventing
transmission of the AIDS virus. In spite of thisknowledge most teachers did not abstain and instead
80% used protective devices.
Majority of the respondents knew the signs of AIDS andhad seen and taken care of AIDS patients. Majority had
come across AIDS orphans and this is in line with theassertion by NASCOP that “one of the work impacts ofAIDS deaths to young adults is the increase in thenumber of orphans”, (NASCOP, 1999, AIDS In Kenya,background, projections, impact and intervention).
The study further revealed that teachers were involvedin activities geared to HIV/AIDS prevention likecounseling, teaching in class and in general discussions
with pupils/students. This shows that if teachers werewell equipped with proper information on HIV/AIDS,
they would play an important role in the prevention ofthe spread of this scourge.
In another early study, it was noted that “schools shouldallocate sufficient personnel, time and resources toensure that policies and programmes are developed andimplemented with appropriate community involvement.
Curricula are well developed and teachers are welltrained, and update teaching methods and materials
about AIDS are available”, (USA Department of Healthand Human Rescources, 1987).
Although teachers are involved in teaching about
HIV/AIDS, the frequency is very low with only 12.9%59

doing it daily. This study is therefore significant, as it
has pointed out those deficiencies on teachers so thatremedial measures are taken to empower teachers as
disseminators of HIV/AIDS preventive methods tostudents.

RECOMMENDATION
1．Curricula for a/c teachers at all levels should be
modified to include information on HIV/AIDS.
2．Workshops/seminars for teachers at all levels should
be contacted regularly.
3．Health facilities should be actively involved indisseminating HIV/AIDS information to all patients
attending them.
4．Further studies should be carried out on thedeterminants of human behavior, preferebly by socialscientists.
This study was conducted as a Middle Level
Manpower Training (MLMT) programme of Kenya
Medical Training College (KMTC/JICA) project in 1999
sponsored by Japan International Co-operation Agency(JICA).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank to following persons
without whom the entire exercise could not have beenpossible.
・Dr. Rakwar of the Department of Community HealthNairobi University
・Mr. Njeru of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology,Nairobi.
・Mr. Moses Lukhando, of AMREF, Nairobi.
・Mrs. Yasuyo Honda, Information Technology expert,KMTC/JICA project.
・Mrs. Seki expert KMTC/JICA project・Mrs. A. Kimeu, KMTC/JICA project coordinator.
・Mr. M. Nyalla computer instructor and lecturer,
Department of Radiography KMTC Nairobi.
・All computer Instructors KMTC Nairobi.
・All Project drivers MLMT, 1999
・All Project typists/secretaries MLMT, 1999.
・MR. B. C. Muturi Mwangi, Director, Nairobi CityEducation.
・Teachers/students/pupils of Riruta Location, Nairobi.
・The entire KMTC administration
・The families of the authors and researchers.
It is my prayer that they continue in the same spirit forthe benefit of KMTC and indeed the country, Kenya.

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Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDS among students and teachers

REFERENCES
１．World Health Organization (WHO), AIDS and HIV
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２．National AIDS Control Programme (NASCOP), AIDS inKenya, p V.
３．AMREF. Kenya, reports on STD/AIDS programme
activities, p 2, 1993.
４．Family Planning Methods and practice, Africa Second
Edition, 1999.
５．Mukwaya J. The progress on Nations, New York, p 23,
1999.

６．Hatcher RA et al, Contraceptive Technology
International Edition, USA, p 82, 1989.
７．Jayasuriya C. HIV and law reform, Asia and the Pacific.
８．Jayasuriya C. HIV/Law, Ethics and Human rights(edited), 1st Edition, 1995.
９．Brown LR. The potential Impact of AIDS on Populationand Economic Growth Rates. International Food Policy
Research Institute, June 1997.
10．Oekyo T, Bathzar G, Stover J, Johnston A. AIDS in
Kenya, Background, Projection, Impacts and Prevention,
1997.
11．Schapink D, Hema J, Majuga B. HIV Prevention andAIDS Care in Africa. 1997.

J. Natl. Inst. Public Health, 51 (1) : 2002