Behavioral Change and Response to HIV/AIDS Prevention Techniques among Students of Private Colleges of Addis Ababa

Abstract

The extent of damage caused by HIV/AIDS, particularly, in developing countries calls for every one’s contribution towards its prevention. The danger is more serious imagining adolescents and adults as primary victims of the disease. Hence, this study is done to identify the level of HIV/AIDS related issues such as knowledge, behavioral change, risk perception, and appraisal of recommended responses among private college students of Addis Ababa, where the most vulnerable age group could be found. Associations of behavioral change with the others are also determined. 230 subjects were randomly selected from two of the private colleges found in Addis Ababa. And data were obtained from the subjects using self administered questionnaire. And then a descriptive analysis of it was done. Correlation analysis was also made to see the association between behavioral changes with the factors mentioned above. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS was found to be high among the participants. Although the over all behavior/practice was safe by majority, unsafe sexual behaviors were also observed from the result. Subjects’ risk perception was found to be in a good position. The same is true for appraisal of recommended responses. Positive correlation was obtained between behavioral change and the rest of factors suggesting their contribution to behavioral change.