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


https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2016.614
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2016)
Submitted: 22 October 2016
Accepted: 12 January 2017
Published: 18 January 2017
Mobile Caravan Project, Awareness, STD/HIV, AIDS, Dschang
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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

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