EFFECTS OF PEER EDUCATION ON AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIV AND AIDS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN NSUKKA EDUCATION ZONE OF ENUGU STATE.

EFFECTS OF PEER EDUCATION ON AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIV AND AIDS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN NSUKKA EDUCATION ZONE OF ENUGU STATE.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the effects of peer education on awareness and attitude towards HIV and AIDs among in- school adolescents in Enugu State. To guide this study, six research questions were posed and six null hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The research design used in this study was non-equivalent control group Quasi-Experimental involving experimental treatment group and a control group. The sample for the study was made up of 231 students in SSII. A random sampling technique was used to draw two co-educational schools from each of the local government areas and they were randomly assigned to both experimental and control groups. Three trained research assistants were used for the experiment while the control group was not exposed to any treatment. A 20-item researcher designed questionnaire titled HIV and AIDS Awareness and Attitude Questionnaire(HAAAQ) was used for the study. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha statistic which yielded Alpha co-efficient values of 0.80 and 0.79 for the two clusters. Measures were taken to control the extraneous variables. A pretest of the questionnaire was administered before the treatment on peer education that lasted for six weeks. The data collected were analysed using Mean, and Analysis of Covariance.(ANCOVA) The Results revealed that: students exposed to treatment on peer education have higher awareness of HIV and AIDS when compared to those of the control group;gender is not a significant factor influencing students awareness towards HIV and AIDS, students exposed to treatment on peer education have a higher positive attitude towards HIV and AIDS compared to those of the control.Furthermore, gender does not significantly influence students’ attitude towards HIV and AIDS. Also, there is no interaction effect of gender and peer education on students’ awareness as well as attitude towards HIV and AIDS. It was recommended among others that school authorities should integrate play method in the teaching of sexuality issues as this will create room for students to utilize peer approach in learning; while federal and state ministries of Education should organize and sponsor workshops and seminars for school guidance counselors on how to implement peer education on awareness and attitude towards HIV and AIDS among in-school adolescents.

ONE INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study

Adolescence period is characterized by emotional, intellectual,physical, social and sexual changes and the individual is faced with various challenges. Adolescence according to Conger, Kegan and Mussen (2004) is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood. It is considered to last from ages 10 to 19 and from puberty to full biological /physiological maturation. Within this time frame, adolescents are affected by various developmental transformations including physical, emotional, and social changes. With these changes come many responsibilities and privileges that are different from those of childhood or full adulthood, and these aspects ultimately define the period of adolescence.The word adolescence has it’s origin and meaning from Latin perspective. In Latin, it implies “to grow into maturity” (Eke, 1989). The author further noted that the common denominator in all adolescents experiences,irrespective of cultural variations, is the biological change from childhood into mature adult status capable of reproduction. According to Eke, during this period, remarkable physical changes take place. Boys and girls experience a spurt in growth. A sharp increase in height for girls at the ages of 11 and 13 and in boys between 13 and 15. There is the presence of growth spurt which leads to the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics. Nworah, (2004)has it that adolescence is a period of rapid transitional or developmental 12

changes from childhood to adulthood. It is a period when the physical and physiological change that accompany the transition from childhood to adulthood become manifest and continues into adulthood. Adolescence as noted by Unachukwu and Ebenebe (2009) cover the age of 12 or 13 till the early twenties. They pointed out that in Nigeria, variations exist which may be longer or shorter than the above stipulated age range depending on the tradition or the modern outlook of those involved.

EFFECTS OF PEER EDUCATION ON AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIV AND AIDS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN NSUKKA EDUCATION ZONE OF ENUGU STATE.