Browsing by Author "Kalungwizi, Vituce Jelasy"

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    Awareness, beliefs and attitude toward antiretroviral therapy and their influence on HIV risk perception among secondary school students in Morogoro region, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2011) Kalungwizi, Vituce Jelasy
    This study assessed awareness, beliefs and attitudes toward Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and their influence on HIV risk perception among secondary school students in urban and rural areas of Morogoro Region. Specifically, the study assessed the knowledge and risk perception related to HIV and AIDS and the variation of HIV risk perception by place, sex and age. The study also assessed the influence of awareness, beliefs and attitude toward ART on HIV risk perception. The sample constituted of 291 students randomly selected from Morogoro Rural and Morogoro Municipality. Data were collected using closed ended questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Statistical measures used included chi-square test, Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regressions. The findings indicated that; the majority of respondents were aware of HIV and AIDS. However the study revealed some misconceptions about the epidemic. For example a good number of respondents believed that HIV and AIDS could be cured. The majority of respondents had low risk perception. Some social demographic factors had influence on perceive severity of AIDS. Students from urban areas were more likely to perceive AIDS as a less severe illness than students from rural areas. Girls were more likely to perceive AIDS as a serious illness than boys. There was no significant relationship between age and perceived risk to HIV infection. Student with high awareness, who were over optimistic about ART and those who had positive attitude toward ART believed that AIDS was no longer a life threatening illness. It was recommended that because majority of participants indicated less fear to HIV and AIDS instilling fear among young people as a motivation to make them avoid risk behaviors should be avoided, instead practitioners should encourage prosocial behaviors. It was also recommended that MOHSW should expand prevention programmes to match the rapidly expanding treatment services.