HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitude and Sexual Behaviours Among Undergraduate Students at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Tanzania
Corresponding Author(s) : Stephen Maluka
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
##issue.vol## 12 ##issue.no## 1 (2023)
##article.abstract##
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is among the major public health problems
facing the world today. While studies have assessed HIV-related knowledge, attitudes
and behaviours among college students, evidence shows that HIV prevalence among
the youth has been growing at an alarming rate in the past five years. Thus, there is
need for more studies to assess young people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours
on HIV/AIDS in higher learning institutions. This study aimed to assess HIV-related
knowledge, sexual attitudes and behaviours, as well as the use of HIV prevention
services among students at the Dar es Salaam College of Education (DUCE), in
Tanzania. The study sample included 574 undergraduate students at the DUCE who
were randomly selected to participate in the study. Quantitative approach was used
to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of the students on HIV/AIDS. The
knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among students was found to be generally high.
Nevertheless, misconceptions about the routes of its transmission were found.
Attitudes towards various issues related to HIV/AIDS were generally positive among
the majority of students. Regarding sexual behaviours, the majority of the students
were characteristically risky. For example, the absolute majority of the students
(85.9%) had sexual partners during this survey. Specifically, two-thirds (61.0%) had one
sexual partner, while 30.8% had had multiple partners in the past 12 months
preceding the study. Moreover, the vast majority (87.7%) had engaged in sexual
intercourse, 65.0% had had sex with one partner; while 35% had had sex with more
than one partner in the past 12 months. More than half (51.1%) did not use condoms
during the last sexual intercourse. The study concludes that DUCE undergraduate
students were at a high risk of HIV infections based on various risk indicators that
need attention in terms of intervention. This study provides evidence for the design
of HIV prevention programmes tailored to the preferences and characteristics of
undergraduate students in Tanzania, and in similar contexts.
Received: 1
st March 2023; Accepted: 12th April 2023; Revised: 19th May 202
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- HIV-related Knowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV-Infected Patients Among Undergraduate
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- and Non-Communicable Diseases among DUCE Community. Mimeo, Dar es Salaam
- University College of Education.
- Maluka, S. & Sangeti, S. 2022. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Non-Communicable
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##journal.references##
Abou El Fadl, R.K., Abdelmoety, A., Farahat, Z. & Hussein, M. 2019. Assessing the Levels of
HIV-related Knowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV-Infected Patients Among Undergraduate
Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. HIV/AIDS Research and Palliative Care, 11: 83–92.
Daniel, W.W & Cross, C.L. 2019. Biostatistics: A Foundation for Analysis in the Health Sciences
(Tenth edition). London: Wiley.
Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE). 2022. Fact and Figures 2021/2022. Dar
es Salaam: DUCE.
East African Lake Victoria Partnership (EALP). 2010. HIV Sero-Behavioural Study in Six
Universities in Tanzania. Study Report. November 2010.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS]. 2014. The Gap Report. Geneva: UNAIDS.
UNAIDS. 2013. Global report; UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2013. Available
from: Http://www.unaids.org/en/ resources/ documents/2013/20130923_ UNAIDS_ Global_
Report_2013. Accessed June 12, 2022.
UNAIDS.? 2019a. UNAIDS 'AIDSinfo'. Geneva: UNAIDS.
UNAIDS. 2019b. Communities at the Centre: Defending Rights, Breaking Barriers,?Reaching
People with HIV services. Global AIDS Update 2019. Geneva: UNAIDS.
UNAIDS. 2017. Global AIDS Monitoring 2019: Indicators for Monitoring the 2016 United
Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. Geneva: UNAIDS.
Kileo, M.S. 2016. Predictors of Substance Use Among Undergraduate University Students: A
Cross-sectional Study, Dodoma Municipality Tanzania. Dodoma: University of Dodoma.
Maluka, S. & Sangeti, S. 2021. Examining Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards HIV/AIDS
and Non-Communicable Diseases among DUCE Community. Mimeo, Dar es Salaam
University College of Education.
Maluka, S. & Sangeti, S. 2022. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Non-Communicable
Diseases among Students and Staff at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education in
Tanzania. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(2): 120–13.
Ministry of Health (MoH) [Tanzania Mainland], Ministry of Health (MoH) [Zanzibar], National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) & ICF. 2023.
Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2022 Key Indicators Report.
Dodoma, Tanzania; and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF.
Mkumbo, K. 2013. Assessment of HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours among
Students in Higher Education in Tanzania. Global Public Health, 8(10): 1168–1179.
Mwamwenda, T.S. 2014. University of Nairobi Students’ Level of HIV/AIDS Knowledge.
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(27). Doi:10.5901/mjss. 2014.v5n27p500.
Nubed, C. K. & Akoachere, J.F.T.K. 2016. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding
HIV/AIDS among Senior Secondary School Students in Fako Division, South West Region,
Cameroon. BMC Public Health, 16: 847.
Patsani, P., Parida, J., Panda, A., Jena, S., Behera, S.S., Pradhan, A., Patra, P.K., Pati, S., Kaur, H.
& Acharya, S.K. 2023. Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices Towards HIV/AIDS among
Adolescents in India: A Scoping Review Protocol. PLoS ONE, 18(2): e0280985.
Setia, M.S. 2016. Methodology Series Module 3: Cross-sectional Studies. Indian Journal of
Dermatology, 61(3): 261–264.
Thanavanh, B., Or-Rashid, M.H., Kasuya, H. & Sakamoto, J. 2013. Knowledge, Attitudes and
Practices Regarding HIV/AIDS among Male High School Students in Lao People's
Democratic Republic. Journal of the International AID Society, 11; 16(1):17387.
United Republic of Tanzania, Prime Minister’s Office [URT-PMO]. 2018. Tanzania Fourth National
HIV and AIDS Multisectoral Strategic Framework (NMSF IV) 2018/2019–2022/2023. Dar es
Salaam: Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS).
United Republic of Tanzania (URT). 2012. Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey 2011–
Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
URT. 2014. Guideline on Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases at Work
Place in Public Sector. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
World Medical Association (WMA). 1964. Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical
Research Involving Human Subjects. https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-ofhelsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/ (Accessed on
th March 2023)