Assessment of media acquired HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices among learners at Collins Chabane Local Municipality in Vhembe District.

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a global public health problem with the highest number of HIV positive adolescents. In sub-Saharan Africa about 1.5 million adolescents are living with HIV. Limpopo province has become the fifth contributor to HIV/AIDS incidence among the nine Provinces of South Africa with Vhembe District contributing more than 6.9 % of the provincial HIV/AIDS burden. Adolescents’ risky sexual behaviors are blamed for high HIV/AIDS burden. Certain factors including knowledge, attitudes and practices are believed to influence risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. Knowledge can be acquired from various sources. Adolescents acquire much of their general knowledge from media. The purpose of the study is to investigate media acquired HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices among learners at Collins Chabane Local Municipality in Vhembe District. A descriptive quantitative survey was conducted using cross sectional study design from May 2021 to June 2021.From the total population of 1276 grade 12 learners from Collins Chabane Local Municipality, a sample size of n=400 was drawn using slovin’s formula. Therefore 400 grade 12 learners participated in the study. Data collection was done using researcher-administered questionnaire and data analysis done using SPSS version 26.0. Most (84.5%, n=338) of learners had right information about HIV/AIDS acquired from life Orientation school lessons as their primary source of information. Majority (97 %, n = 388) of learners knew condoms as one of the prevention method for HIV/AIDS, but (50.75%, n =203) of learners had negative attitudes towards condom use because they believed that condoms reduces sexual pleasure. The study also found that learners have already started having sexual intercourse when (50%, n =198) of learners reported that abstaining from sex is no longer serious. About (41.56%, n = 166) of learners watch HIV/AIDS related programs on TV, while the majority (48.61%, n =193) of learners acquired HIV information from radio’s. Few (23.27%, n = 91) of learners read HIV/AIDS related programs on pamphlets, while (13.25%, n =53) of learners reported an internet for HIV/AIDS information. It is therefore concluded that TV and Radio are two leading media sources of HIV/AIDS information for adolescents; and that perceptions about condom are still barriers to condom use among learners. It is therefore important that media platforms targeting adolescents should be strengthened to disseminate correct information.