Conocimientos, actitudes y percepciones del riesgo sobre VIH - SIDA en adolescentes de la Unidad Educativa Nelson Izquierdo Naula. Nazón 2022

Abstract

Adolescence is the period of life after childhood and before adulthood, ideal to identify and warn of the potential harm people are exposed to in regard to sexually transmitted diseases. The purpose of this was to determine knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions about HIV / SIDA in adolescents attending Nelson Izquierdo Naula School, in Nazón, 2022. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, featuring a sample of 184 individuals. The instrument used was questionnaire called “Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions about HIV/AIDS”. The results show an average age of 15,27 years; 52,3% are female and 60,9% are senior students. The main access to media is the Internet (90,1%). In regard to general knowledge, 70,2% of the participants identify AIDS as a disease; in regard to modes of transmission, 67,5% say they have penetrative sexual relations without using a condom. On the subject of the attitude towards information strategies, 58,3% of the students express considerable interest in conferences, health professionals´ talks and Internet. In regard to prevention methods, 40,4% agree that condoms should be cheap and accessible, and 42,4% disagree with moving a relative from a classroom if one of their classmates has this disease. On the risk perception about the probability of becoming infected, 35,1% of participants stated that there is no possibility and 35,8% said that risk is little. In conclusion, the participants identify HIV / IADS as a disease, but there is still a lack of knowledge of the modes of transmission and prevention methods. They show empathy with patients with this disease and also considerable interest in receiving information through talks, health professionals and the Internet. The risk perception is either little or none.