HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual behaviour among junior high school students in New Providence, Bahamas

To determine accuracy of knowledge and sexual behaviour patterns of junior high school students in New Providence towards HIV/AIDS and identify gender variations.

A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling of classrooms was undertaken at two schools utilizing a questionnaire. SPSS was used for statistical analysis.

Three hundred and fifty-four students participated in the study; the mean age was 12.25 years, 55.1% males and 44.9% females. Most (88%) students identified sexual intercourse as a mode of HIV transmission, 62.5% were accurate regarding anal sex and 32.9% were accurate about sexual intercourse in the water, as modes of HIV transmission. Abstinence was identified as a method of HIV prevention by 54.1% of students although 85.2% of students knew that condoms were a method of prevention. On beliefs regarding transmission, 21.2% believed mosquito bites and 13.1% believed toilet seats were routes for disease spread. Only 16.9% of participants reported a history of sexual intercourse; of those, 57.6% indicated that they were age ≤ 10 years when they first had intercourse. Concerning use of birth control, 64.5% of sexually experienced respondents reported never using any method.

Junior high school students have fairly accurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS but misconceptions regarding transmission are still prevalent; patterns in gender variation are few.