The relationship between assertiveness and HIV preventive behaviours among secondary school adolescents: a case of PASHA programme - Tanga

This study examined the relationship between assertive behavior and HIV preventive behaviors among secondary school adolescents in Tanga region.Data was collected through self administered questionnaire from a sample of 288 Form Three students. The sample was drawn from four schools in two districts of Tanga urban and Korogwe in Tanga region. Data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS version 15.0 manual. The results revealed a relationship between social assertiveness and HIV preventive behaviors (r = -0.10). The results also revealed a statistically significant correlation between sexual assertiveness and HIV preventive behaviors (r = -0.25; p ˂ 0.01). Finally the study found that HIV prevention motivation correlated positively with social assertiveness (r = 0.18, p ˂ 0.01) and sexual assertiveness (r = 0.29 p ˂ 0.01). The findings suggest that behavioral skills training such as assertiveness training should be given equality to both girls and boys in secondary schools. In addition to that, the HIV prevention programmes conducted in secondary schools should incorporate more components of sexual assertiveness skills and develop school adolescents’ motivation to practice HIV preventive behaviors such as negotiating for safer sexual practices. It also concluded that HIV prevention motivation in an important factor in explaining assertive behaviors among school adolescents. It’s recommended that assertive skills among school adolescents should be developed. Further research should also be done on how best this can be achieved.