Effects of peer education on awareness and attitude towards hiv and aids among in-school adolescents

Thesis Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of peer education on
awareness and attitude towards HIV and AIDs among in- school adolescents in
Enugu State. To guide this study, six research questions were posed and six null
hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The research
design used in this study was non-equivalent control group Quasi-Experimental
involving experimental treatment group and a control group. The sample for the
study was made up of 231 students in SSII. A random sampling technique was
used to draw two co-educational schools from each of the local government
areas and they were randomly assigned to both experimental and control
groups. Three trained research assistants were used for the experiment while the
control group was not exposed to any treatment. A 20-item researcher designed
questionnaire titled HIV and AIDS Awareness and Attitude Questionnaire
(HAAAQ) was used for the study. The reliability of the instrument was
determined using Cronbach Alpha statistic which yielded Alpha co-efficient
values of 0.80 and 0.79 for the two clusters. Measures were taken to control the
extraneous variables. A pretest of the questionnaire was administered before the
treatment on peer education that lasted for six weeks. The data collected were
analysed using Mean, and Analysis of Covariance.(ANCOVA) The Results
revealed that students exposed to treatment on peer education have higher
awareness of HIV and AIDS when compared to those of the control group;
gender is not a significant factor influencing students awareness towards HIV
and AIDS, students exposed to treatment on peer education have a higher
positive attitude towards HIV and AIDS compared to those of the control.
Furthermore, gender does not significantly influence students’ attitude towards
HIV and AIDS. Also, there is no interaction effect of gender and peer education
on students’ awareness as well as attitude towards HIV and AIDS. It was
recommended among others that school authorities should integrate play
method in the teaching of sexuality issues as this will create room for students
to utilize peer approach in learning; while federal and state ministries of
Education should organize and sponsor workshops and seminars for school
guidance counselors on how to implement peer education on awareness and
attitude towards HIV and AIDS among in-school adolescents.
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