MALE ADOLESCENTS' KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS HIV / AIDS PREVENTION

1.1 Introduction

The HIV/AIDS infected patients can live healthy lives for longer if proper care and support is provided; their immune system can be strengthened by medical treatment, healthy food, regular exercise, rest, care and support. They need a compassionate multifaceted assistance and support which will enable them to find meaning to life, appraising their survival, taping new resources of psychic strength and courage. Some of the feelings the PLWHA experience include shock or anger at being positively diagnosed with HIV, fear over how the disease will progress, fear of isolation by family and friends and worries about infecting others. By bearing such a heavy burden, it is not surprising that depression is twice as common in PLWHA compared to general population (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Since the first reported case of HIV/AIDS in 1981, the disease has had a devastating effect on all components of our society and has become the most deadly infectious disease epidemic in recent times. The disease is seen as a threat to the stability of entire nations and regions affecting the most productive members of the society. HIV/AIDS has become a global phenomenon, however the disease is most pronounced in developing countries particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. The spread of the disease has reached pandemic proportions in most parts of the African continent (Agyei-Mensah 2001). The numbers of people infected with HIV keeps on increasing particularly among the young people. The estimated number of persons living with HIV worldwide in 2007 was 33.3 million. African continent alone had 22.5 million of the world's estimated 33.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS (UNSAID/WHO 2007).

UNAIDS estimates showed that young people under 25 accounted for about 45% of all new HIV cases (over 6800 people become infected with HIV everyday) in adults in 2007. The disease continues to ravage Sub-Saharan Africa and it remains the most serious of infectious disease challenges in Africa. The leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa is HIV/AIDS (Tanaka, Kunii, Hatano & Wakai 2007).

Prevention supports of donor agencies and the government have been working assiduously to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic but there has not been any considerable decrease in the prevalent rate within ellembele District. A critical question here is; what could have accounted for this? Prevalence in 15-19 years group shows an increase trend though efforts have been made to slow down the spread. Male adolescents are vulnerable and may be influenced into high-risk behaviours by cultural norms regarding alcohol use, plural or multiple partners and other aspects of social behaviour (Ministry of Health 2001, 37).

According to UNAIDS Report (2004), almost five million people became newly infected with HIV in 2003, the greatest number in any one year since the beginning of the epidemic. At the global level, the number of people living with HIV continues to grow – from 35 million in 2001 to 38 million in 2003. in the same year, AIDS killed almost three million; over 20 million have died since the first cases of AIDS were identified in 1981 (UNAIDS Report, 2004).

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are known to have great emotional needs and they require enormous support for coming to terms with dire affliction status. In addition to being a disease that is associated with a number of physical malfunctions and progressive discomforts like pain, shortness of breath, altered sexual functions and disfigurement, HIV/AIDS is associated with social stigma, it is highly stigmatized disease and this stigmatization can lead to a progression of other grievous psychological stressors such as anxiety, depression, fear, suicidal tendencies and so on, on the prospect of real and anticipated losses, worsening quality of life, fear of physical decline and death, coping with uncertainty, unemployment, homelessness, financial doldrums and the breakup of relationships. HIV/AIDS is a disaster which disrupts the family’s equilibrium by placing a dark and frightening cloud over their future; it is one of the most challenging public health problems of our country.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Male Adolescents’ Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS Prevention.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that HIV/AIDS can lead to ostracism and social isolation; some children have a difficult time because of the interminable bullying and mockery at school and neighborhood which may lead to loneliness and low self esteem. Because of the stigma of HIV/AIDS, families are fearful of disclosing the diagnosis and have limited support systems from both inside and outside their family.

HIV/AIDS can lead to ostracism and social isolation; some children have a difficult time because of the interminable bullying and mockery at school and neighborhood which may lead to loneliness and low self esteem. Because of the stigma of HIV/AIDS, families are fearful of disclosing the diagnosis and have limited support systems from both inside and outside their family.

HIV and AIDS are serious public health problems, which have socioeconomic, employment and human rights implications. It is recognized that the HIV/AIDS epidemic will affect every workplace, with prolonged staff illness, absenteeism, and death impacting on productivity, employee benefits, occupational health and safety, production costs and workplace morale (Code of Good Practice, 2000).

Furthermore HIV/AIDS is still a disease surrounded by ignorance, prejudice, discrimination and stigma. in the workplace unfair discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS has been perpetuated through practices such as pre-employment HIV testing, dismissals for being HIV positive and the denial of employee benefits.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of male adolescents towards HIV/AIDS in order to institute meaningful preventive measures for the control of HIV/AIDS infection in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the HIV/AIDS preventive measure utilized among Male Adolescents in the area under review;
2. To establish the impact of HIV / AIDS awareness programmes on male adolescents in the study area;
3. To examine the level of awareness towards HIV/AIDS among male adolescents in the area under study;
4. To assess the attitude of male adolescents in the area under review towards HIV/AIDS; and
5. To investigate the Problems Associated with HIV/AIDS among Male Adolescents in the area under review.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the HIV/AIDS preventive measure utilized among Male Adolescents in the area under review?
• What is the impact of HIV / AIDS awareness programmes on male adolescents in the study area?
• What is the level of awareness towards HIV/AIDS among male adolescents in the area under study?
• What is the attitude of male adolescents in the area under review towards HIV/AIDS?
• What is the Problems Associated with HIV/AIDS among Male Adolescents in the area under review?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant factors inhibiting the HIV/AIDS preventive measures among Male Adolescents in the area under review
• H1: There are significant factors inhibiting the HIV/AIDS preventive measures among Male Adolescents in the area under review

1.7 Significance of Study

The study will benefit the Governments Departments by enabling them make use of the findings of the research in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic issues in the department. The findings and recommendations based on the outcome of this study will inform policy makers in the area under review and the country as a whole on the psychological implications of HIV and also serve as a reference source to future researchers contributing to the existing body of literature on the subject matter.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on Male Adolescents’ Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS Prevention using Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
3. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definition of Terms

HIV Stigma:

It is an irrational or negative attitudes, behaviors, and judgments towards people living with or at risk of HIV.

Knowledge:

To have information in one's mind as a result of experience or because you have learned or been told (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 2005).

Attitude:

It is the way one thinks feels or behaves about somebody or something (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 2005).

1.11 Organization of the Study

For the information presented in a research work to be clearly understood and appreciated, a systematic and chronological presentation of the work is of greater importance. In keeping with this, this research has been organized and presented in five chapters;

Chapter one of the study, provides background of the study, stating the problem of the study and the research questions and hypotheses to be tested in the study. It also highlights the significance of the study and scope of the study.

Chapter two reviews related literature on Male Adolescents’ Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Chapter Three; information on the method employed in the collection of data and their analysis can be found in this chapter. Also in this chapter, justification is provided for the adoption of the methods and analytical techniques employed.

Chapter Four; This involves the presentation and analyses of data findings from the testing of hypothesis are also presented here.

Chapter Five; This is the final chapter and it contains the summary of the entire work done, the conclusions down, and the recommendations made by the researcher based on the findings of the research work.

Appendices; It is usual practice that in the final pages of research work, reproductions of some document such as questionnaire relevant tables, statute, and letters attached for a better appreciation of the research work by the reader. This can also serve as a means of verification work done.