HIV knowledge, risky behaviours and public health care services attendance among adolescents from the Grassroot soccer Zimbabwe programme

Author:

Mzingwane Mayibongwe LouisORCID,Mavondo Greanious Alfred,Mantula Fennie,Mapfumo Claudinos,Gwatiringa Calleta,Moyo Bhekimpilo,Dube Primrose,Chaibva Cynthia Nombulelo

Abstract

Abstract Background Interventions aimed at improving accessing of health care services, including HIV testing, remain a priority in global HIV eradication efforts. Grassroot Soccer Zimbabwe (GRSZ) is an adolescent health organisation that uses the popularity of soccer to promote healthy behaviours. We assessed HIV knowledge levels, risky behaviours and attitudes in school going adolescents and young adults who attended GRSZ programmes and determined if HIV knowledge levels were associated with increased levels of accessing of health care services by youths. Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 450 participants aged 13–30 years who attended at least one of the three programmes offered by GRSZ. Self-administered and self-reporting questionnaires were used to collect information on participants’ demographics, knowledge on HIV and reproductive health, sources of information, access to HIV and reproductive health services and attitudes and risky behaviours. Results A total of 392 (87.1%) responses were received. High HIV and reproductive health knowledge levels were recorded (77.7%) on our scale with females recording higher levels (81.1%) than males (71.1%). The majority of participants (72%) indicated willingness to abstain from risky behaviours such as use of drugs and attending youth sex parties. However about 33.3% of the participants who had sexual intercourse reported having condomless sex. There was marginal association between high HIV and reproductive health knowledge levels and accessing health care services in the past 24 months (p = 0.045). Conclusions HIV and reproductive health knowledge levels were relatively high among adolescents and were associated with accessing health care services in the past 24 months. There however are some gaps associated with engaging in risky sexual behaviours such as condomless sex which could be addressed by using these findings to assist organizations working with adolescents, educators and policy makers in developing programmes that address adolescent sexual behaviours.

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Health Policy

Reference27 articles.

1. UNAIDS. UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2016 Accessed 17 Oct 2018 from http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/global-AIDS-update-2016_en.pdf.

2. UNAIDS DATA 2017. Accessed 11 Oct 2018 from http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2017_data-book_en.pdf.

3. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2015: Key Indicators. Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency 2015. Accessed 11 Oct 2018 from https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR322/FR322.pdf.

4. UNAIDS. 90–90–90 - An ambitious treatment target to help end the AIDS epidemic. Accessed 28 Nov 2018 from http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/909090.

5. Limaye RJ, Rimal RN, Brown J, Mkandawire G. Using entertainment education to promote self-efficacy and aspirations among young Malawians: the Tisankhenji radio program. Cases Public Health Communication Marketing. 2013;7:16–34.

Cited by 3 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3