FEASIBILITY OF ABSTINENCE AS A PREVENTIVE STRATEGY FOR HIV/AIDS CONTROL IN THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COMMUNITY IN KUMASI, GHANA
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Date
2007
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Publisher
Journal Of Science and Technology (Ghana)
Abstract
HIV is spreading and the youth bear the brunt of its onslaught. Though abstinence until marriage
is thought to be the most effective method of HIV prevention for the youth, others think it is ineffec tive.
This study assessed the feasibility of abstinence in preventing HIV/AIDS spread among terti ary students
of the KNUST. Study type was non- interventional, descriptive and design current cross- sectional.
Study participants were selected by stratified sampling, followed by systematic sam pling. A total of 300
participants were sampled. Seventy nine (79%) (95% CI, 73.9-83.8) said STIs
could be avoided by abstaining from sex. Ninety six (96%) (95% CI, 93.5-98.3%) said HIV could be
acquired via sex. Ninety six (96%) (95% CI, 93.8- 98.5%) of those who said HIV could be avoided
said it could be done by abstaining from sex. Seventy two (72%) were of the view that sex should
start only after marriage. Sixty nine 69% (95% CI, 63.3-74.4%) said they would wait till after mar riage
to involve in sex. Sixty seven (67%) (95% CI, 60.7- 72.1%) were encouraged by peers to ab stain from sex,
Seventy four (74%) (95% CI, 68.5- 79.1%) thought colleagues their age had pre marital sex and 28%
(95% CI, 22.5- 33.4%) said they were pressured to have sex. Thirty one (31%)
(95% CI, 25.6- 36.7%) of respondents were sexually experienced. There is the general view that
HIV/AIDS spread among the youth can be reduced by abstaining from sex until marriage and that
abstinence could and should be encouraged as a preventive strategy for HIV/AIDS
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Thia article is published by Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana)