Why the Gap between Awareness (Knowledge) and Practice among the Youth in Hohoe District: HIV/AIDS and Condom Use

Abstract

Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, more and more people get infected everyday worldwide. At the same time, there is increasing evidence that people become more and more aware of the causes and preventive methods of the scourge. Despite the high knowledge of HIV infection, and sexual health-enhancing benefits of condoms, condom use is still very low among the sexually active youth in Ghana It is against this background that this study was designed to assess knowledge on HIV/AIDS amongst the youth, to determine the preventive methods, and identify factor non-use of condoms. Methodology involved a combination of both quantitative and qualitative techniques. 364 questionnaire were administered to both males and females aged 15 to 24 years. This was to solicit responses on knowledge, types of preventive methods known to them and level of condom use among them. Also 220 questionnaire on sexual behaviour were administered to a separate youth within the same age group. In-depth interviews were done together with Focus Group Discussions. Qualitative data was analyzed manually after necessary translation and transcriptions were done. The quantitative data was analyzed using Epilnfo( version 6) computer programme. Major findings indicate that the main reason for lack of condom use despite the rather high awareness is that use of condoms reduces sexual satisfaction especially among the males. This is given more credence given the fact that the use condom males have more dominating decision-making power regarding sex than their male counterparts. Another significant finding is that the use of condoms generates suspicion that one has HIV/AAIIDS and since no one wants to be stigmatized, the tendency is to use of the condom. It is recommended that the youth be given social/political empowerment to youth organization that will address HIV/AIDS with special reference to condom use.