Determinant of HIV and Pregnancy Prevention Knowledge Among In School Adolescents in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study seeks to assess the level of knowledge of visually-impaired (VI)
and non-visually impaired (NVI) in-school adolescents about methods of
preventing HIV and unintended pregnancy and to determine some personal,
parental and family characteristics influencing their level of knowledge.
Comparative cross-sectional research design was used to select 394 VI and
NVI in-school adolescent boys and girls aged 15-19 years for this study
through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a
structured questionnaire administered in Open Data Kit (ODK).

Data analysis
was done using frequency distribution and Binary Logistics Regression.
About 70% and 94% of the VI and NVI adolescents respectively were
knowledgeable about HIV prevention, with abstinence been mostly
mentioned. The VI and NVI adolescents who were knowledgeable about
pregnancy prevention were 66% and 91% respectively, with Condom use
been mostly mentioned by both groups of adolescents Some personal
characteristics influencing their level of knowledge include their age, sex,
involvement in extra-curricular activities and class at school. Parental and
family characteristics influencing their knowledge include parental level of
educational attainment at secondary or higher level, type of family and having other siblings.

Efforts at increasing knowledge about pregnancy and HIV
prevention among adolescents with and without disabilities should be the
topmost priority of adolescents sexual and reproductive health.