Knowledge and Perception about Sexual Abstinence on HIV/AIDS Prevention among Undergraduates of a Tertiary Institution in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The world is far behind in preventing new HIV infections. Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and one of the highest rates of new infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria recorded 20,500 HIV/AIDS-related deaths, 48,000 new infections in the first two quarters of 2020 in which an astronomical increase to 100,000 is estimated. Factors attributed to the increasing HIV vulnerability among youths include lack of knowledge and appropriate sexual reproductive health services.

Methods: It is expedient to determine the perception about sexual abstinence and knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention amongst the undergraduates. Quantitative research design and multistage sampling technique were used to select 257 respondents. Self-structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect the data while SPSS version 21 aided data analysis.

Results: The result showed a very high percentage of good perception of sexual abstinence (96.9%) and very high-level HIV/AIDS knowledge (98.8%). Hypothesis testing showed that there was a significant difference between the perception of respondents about sexual abstinence and their abstinence behaviours (0.001). Some of the undergraduates practice risky sexual behaviours and the factors indicated to influence their behaviours were sex education, exposure in school, media; internet, television or literatures, peer pressure; sexual communication with friends, religious beliefs and value, drugs and/ or alcohol. Others included their perception of susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, family members’ supports, cultural norm and value, as well as the sexual communication with both parents.

Conclusion: There is the need for effective sexual health and HIV/AIDS awareness programme. Moreover, young women or females are more vulnerable to early sex debut and HIV/AIDS infection, therefore, efforts should be intensified on educating young females on the medical dangers of early sex debut and the practice of risky sex.