Perceptions of youth regarding the consequences of unsafe lifestyles regarding transmission of HIV and TB in Meadowlands, Gauteng Province

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis are the most investigated and analysed topics worldwide. However, there is a knowledge gap among the youth concerning the consequences of unsafe lifestyle on the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis coinfection. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of youth regarding the consequences of unsafe lifestyles regarding the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis in Meadowlands Township, Gauteng Province. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design research method was used to conduct the study on male and female learners aged 18-20 years in Meadowlands Soweto. Data was collected using questionnaires with closeended questions to determine the demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practices of the youth regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis infections among 410 learners from three high schools. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 was used to analyse data. Charts were used to present the study results. 95% of learners had information on the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Eleven percent of learners knew about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus statistics in their communities. There were 84% of the learners who thought that females are more vulnerable to contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus than males. Fifty percent of the learners did not know that one can develop active Tuberculosis while still infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which indicates that half proportion of learners were not aware of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis co-infections. Furthermore, about 54% of the learners did not know about the Tuberculosis centres available in Meadowlands. Sexual health, Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis co-infection related education needs to be constantly provided to learners to keep them informed.