ISSN 2736-1748
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 5 (12), pp. 307-321, December, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Predictors of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young people: Lessons from Botswana
Thabo T. Fako1*, Lucy W. Kangara1 and Ntonghanwah Forcheh2
1Department of Sociology, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB00705, Gaborone, Botswana.
2Department of Statistics, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB00705, Gaborone, Botswana.
Accepted 23 June, 2017
Abstract
This study sought to identify factors that can predict knowledge about HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Botswana. The data were collected through a self administered questionnaire from a sample of 1294 students from schools around the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone. The research instrument consisted of 76 items that solicited information on background characteristics of respondents, indicators of family cohesiveness and bonding of children with their parents, indicators of personal adjustment, evidence of sex life, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Most respondents (63.1%) displayed adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The ‘type of job that mothers did’ was the most important single factor that distinguished between students who had “adequate knowledge” from those who did not. Other factors, which could be used to predict knowledge about HIV/AIDS, were, in order of importance: type of family of socialisation, level of education, extent of common residence among parents, level of conflict in the family of socialisation, extent of disagreement with mother and extent to which sexual issues were discussed with members of the family. The study concludes that intervention policies should target students whose mothers do jobs of a low status and should promote family bonding and cohesion.
Key words: Botswana, adolescence, discussion of sexual issues, family cohesion, HIV/AIDS, knowledge, mothers’ occupation, socio-economic status.