SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR AND LIFE SKILLS OF INDONESIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TRANSITION WITH IMPLIED RISK OF HIV INFECTION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUFDY

Abstract

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has killed over two million people since it was first recognized in 1981. It is estimated that the number of people living with HIV worldwide at about 34 million in 2010. Purposes : To determine the knowledge, attitudes and life skills development can delay the onset of drug/tobacco/alcohol use, prevent high-risk sexual behaviours related to HIV/AIDS among adolescents. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in seven randomly selected secondary schools in Semarang district (central Java), Indonesian. Data was collected using a standardized pre-tested self-administrated questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 19. Results: The response rate was 100%. Majority (57.1%) of the respondents were male. The overall mean age of the 340 respondents was 16.3 years (95% CI 16.2 -16.4; ± 1.1 SD). The mean age of males did not differ significantly as compared to the females (p>0.05). Majority 237 (69.7.4%) were Indonesians followed by Chinese 103(30.3%). The overall knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and life skills was low . Overall only 165 (48.5%) out of the 340 respondents had sound knowledge. There was a significant association between knowledge and life skills (p =0.01). The overall general life skills were poor and the overall mean life skills score was 60.8 (95% CI = 59.9 - 61.8). The overall attitudes were poor and the overall mean attitude score was 39.9 (95% CI = 39.3 - 40.4). Although the mean attitude score for the females was significantly higher (40.4) as compared to the males (40), the difference was very small. There was a significant relationship between attitude scores related to HIV/AIDS and gender, life skills to delay the onset of drug/tobacco/alcohol use, prevent high-risk sexual behaviours related to HIV/AIDS among adolescents (p<0.05). Almost a fifth 52 (15.3%) students have had already experienced sexual intercourse and 11.5% oral sex and 11.8% anal sex. The overall mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15 (95% CI 14 - 17) years. The difference in the mean age at first sexual intercourse between males and females was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Majority 91.5 % stated that they didn’t used condom during last sexual intercourse. Only 6.8% stated that they had consumed alcohol before having sex. Conclusions: Levels of knowledge and life skills relating HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among adolescents was relatively low and serious misconceptions exist with regards to prevention. The respondents seem to have unfavorable attitude on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. There is a need for a life skills training sex education and reproductive health in schools which should include promotion of safe sexual behavior Keywords: Knowledge, Attitudes, Life Skills, Sexual Risk Behaviour, HIV/AIDS, Adolescents, Indonesian