Attitude, knowledge and perception towards HIV/Aids, condom use and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) amongst University of Zululand students during the HIV/Aids pandemic
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Date
2009
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Abstract
The investigation explores tertiary education students` attitudes and perceptions towards condom use during the HIV/Aids pandemic. This study focuses on risk behaviour, stigmatization, social perceptions, voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT). It provides insight into student behaviour, attitudes and perceptions. It is hoped that findings can be used in the formulation of improved strategies for HIV/Aids programmes and education in the tertiary sector. A sample of four hundred University of Zululand undergraduates completed a questionnaire. Data was analyzed and interpreted in terms of hypotheses formulated from relevant literature. A mixed methods approach using quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Statistica was used to calculate descriptive statistics while the chi-square was applied to examine the relationship between the variables. Overall the findings seem to indicate that students have knowledge but this does not always translate into actual behaviours. This is likely to result in cognitive dissonance where there is a discrepancy between what respondents believe and how they act. Cognitive dissonance also has an influence on the othering of HIV and Aids and high levels of fear. It is also likely that as the institution is the workplace of students such results can be found amongst individuals who are below the age of thirty five in the business workplace. The results point towards the continuance and further spread of the pandemic as an important proportion of the sample respondents indulge in high risk behaviours and have negative attitudes towards VCT.
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Masters of Commerce in Industrial Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2009.
Keywords
Condom use -- attitudes, Voluntary counselling -- HIV testing