Assessment of knowledge and awareness of secondary school students toward HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste: A cross-sectional study in Baucau Municipality

Abstract

Background: The fatal Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic is one of the most challenging health issues in the world. Particularly, young people aged less than 25 years old account for half of all new infections worldwide. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of self-prevention of HIV infection. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. We administered a close ended questionnaire to assess the levels of HIV knowledge and awareness of individuals aged 17–19 years old. Participants were recruited from four schools in Baucau Municipality consisted of 349 students. Descriptive Statistic, chi-square in SPSS was employed for data analysis. Results: 53.3% of respondents’ knowledge level of the self-prevention from HIV infection was low. HIV/AIDS preventive behaviors were statistically associated with several variables such as educational level of both guardian, occupation of father, and household income level, and so on. Conclusion: This study was considering a low knowledge of self-prevention towards HIV infection among four senior high students. This can be recommended to address through school interventions, the media and peer outreach education programmes