Factors associated with prevalence of HIV among youths of age 18-35 years attending HIV guidance and counseling in Abim Hospital Haart Clinic, Abim District
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Date
2017-07
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Allied Health Sciences
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic. It causes AIDS by weakening the immune system, making the body weak and susceptible to opportunistic diseases often leading to death.
The study was to assess the factors associated with high prevalence of HIV among youths aged 18-35 years attending HIV guidance and counseling in Abim Hospital HAART clinic, Abim District. The three study questions addressed the socio-economic, cultural and behavioral factors related to high HIV prevalence.
A cross sectional study was carried out in a population of 138 respondents obtained using random sampling method by the help of typed questionnaires which were interpreted to the respondents by the researcher.
The standard of education in the study area was found to be very low, only 2% of the respondents had attained tertiary level of education, 37 (27%) had attained secondary level, 77 (56%) had attained primary level, 21 (15%) never attained any formal education. Majority of the respondent 56% were from polygamous families. Also 56% of the respondents said that alcohol is the major risk factor for HIV though 22% said that poverty has a significant part in HIV prevalence. On Cultural factors, 24% got married below 15years, 50% got married between 15-18 years, and only 26% married above 18years. Low condom use and multiple sexual partners were the major behavioral factors in the study, 46% of the participants never used condoms before testing HIV positive and 38 %used condoms sometimes. Also 69% had multiple sexual partners which is a great risk factor to acquiring HIV infection. The findings were in line with other researchers as lakhanpal & Ram, 2008 on educational attainment among others. Generally the educational level was low here, alcoholism was high, polygamy and multiple sexual partners were common behaviors and all these calls upon intervention by various stakeholders.
Description
A research report submitted to the School Of Allied Health Sciences in partial fulfillment for the award of Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health of Kampala International University
Keywords
Prevalence of HIV, Youths of age 18-35 years, HIV guidance and counseling, Abim Hospital, Haart Clinic, Abim District