Youth awareness on sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS in secondary schools in the Dschang Municipality (Cameroon): the Mobile Caravan Project

Martin Sanou Sobze; Armand Tsapi Tiotsia; Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho; Guy Aurelien Foaleng Tankui; Joseph Fokam; Kien-Atsu Tsi; Jimmy Roger Fotso; Yannick Ngueko Azeufack; Patrick Pete Nkamedjie; Adogaye Ben Bechir Sali; Rodrigue Biguioh Mabvouna; Lucia Ercoli; Vittorio Colizzi; Gianluca Russo

doi:10.4081/jphia.2016.614

Authors

Martin Sanou Sobze Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Armand Tsapi Tiotsia
tsapi.armand@gmail.com
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho Department of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Guy Aurelien Foaleng Tankui Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Joseph Fokam Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Italy.
Kien-Atsu Tsi Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Jimmy Roger Fotso Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Yannick Ngueko Azeufack Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon; Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome; Institute of Medicine Solidale (IMES), Rome, Italy.
Patrick Pete Nkamedjie Institute for Research, Socio-economic Development and Communication (IRESCO), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Adogaye Ben Bechir Sali Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
Rodrigue Biguioh Mabvouna Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
Lucia Ercoli Institute of Medicine Solidale (IMES), Rome; Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
Vittorio Colizzi Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
Gianluca Russo Department of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Awareness is a preventive action to instill in individuals certain concepts to improve their health. It is an essential element in the prevention of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV and early pregnancies among adolescents. In 2012, the prevalence of HIVin Cameroon was estimated at 4.3%. The young population appear to be the most affected (3.2%); very close to that of the Dschang Health District (Cameroon; 3.1%) in the 15-19 years age group. Theaimof this study was to evaluate the contribution of the Mobile Caravan project on the preventive aspect of STI/HIV/AIDS among youths of Dschang in 10 secondary schools within three years. 2029 students joined the project’s activities and 58.55% of them belonged to the age group of 16-21 years. Most students attended private schools. Nearly 3/4 of students (1515/2029) had an acceptable level of knowledge regarding STI/HIV/AIDS, which increased in number each year (from 641 to 716 students between 2012 and 2014). The Level of knowledge was significantly determinedby the study cycle (P=0.0004), the type of school (P=0.0027) and the year ofimplementation of activities (P=0.0026). The caravan project has greatly contributed to improving young peoples’ awareness on STI/HIV/AIDS in Dschang Municipality.

Sobze, M. S., Tiotsia, A. T., Djeunang Dongho, G. B., Tankui, G. A. F., Fokam, J., Tsi, K.-A., Fotso, J. R., Azeufack, Y. N., Nkamedjie, P. P., Sali, A. B. B., Mabvouna, R. B., Ercoli, L., Colizzi, V., & Russo, G. (2017). Youth awareness on sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS in secondary schools in the Dschang Municipality (Cameroon): the Mobile Caravan Project. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2016.614