First Year University Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards HIV/AIDS

Authors

  • Vera Arhin College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast
  • Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47963/jedp.v5i.1008

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS, Attitude, Knowledge, Practice, University Students

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to investigate first year students’ knowledge, attitude, and practices towards HIV/AIDS. In achieving this objective, the descriptive research design was adopted. The study participants comprised 249 level 100 students. A questionnaire developed by Carey and Schroder (2002) was used to collect data on students’ HIV/AIDS knowledge. A researcher-designed instrument was used to collect data on students’ attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and practices regarding HIV/AIDS. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analyses. The findings of the study revealed that the respondents’ knowledge level on HIV/AIDS was low and their practices regarding the disease were also poor. However, the respondents had positive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The study recommends HIV/AIDS education course should be incorporated into the university’s curriculum to help increase students’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS and also enhance their practices.

Author Biographies

Vera Arhin, College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast

Vera Arhin holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from the Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. She is a counsellor and a senior lecturer at the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Her research interests include students’ retention and career guidance

Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast.

Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah is a professor of Special Education in the Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Educational Foundations, College of Education Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He obtained his PhD from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and his research focus is on special needs and inclusive education. He also has interest in the training and development of children with special educational needs and disabilities

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

Arhin, V., & Gyimah, E. K. (2021). First Year University Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards HIV/AIDS. Journal of Educational Development and Practice, 5(1), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.47963/jedp.v5i.1008

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2021): Journal of Educational Development and Practice (JED-P)

Section

Articles