HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge and Behavior among School-attending Afro-Descendant Youths in Ecuador.

Adolescents Afro-descendant Condom use Ecuador Epidemiology HIV/AIDS Risk factors Sexually transmitted infections Transmission Youths

Journal

International journal of MCH and AIDS
ISSN: 2161-8674
Titre abrégé: Int J MCH AIDS
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101677679

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2020
Historique:
entrez: 26 10 2020
pubmed: 27 10 2020
medline: 27 10 2020
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

HIV/AIDS transmission in Ecuador is considered a concentrated epidemic; therefore, there are some studies on high risk groups but there is limited published data regarding the HIV/AIDS risk factors among adolescents of African descent. In this study, we sought to explore the determinants of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behavior among afro-descendant youths attending schools in the city of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. A cross-sectional survey among school-attending youths was conducted in Esmeraldas, Ecuador in 2010. Our target population was afro-descendant youths attending the last two years of high school. Thirty public high schools enrolling students in junior and senior years were identified. Outcome data were analyzed in the form of three composite variables. A multivariate linear regression model was built for each outcome. A total of 213 school-attending afro-descendant youths aged 14 to 21 years old were enrolled in this study. Gender distribution was almost equal with a 1:1.17 male to female ratio. Overall, students in this population scored well in comprehensive knowledge of HIV with 88% having medium or higher knowledge. Knowledge of HIV and its determinants was medium to high, but knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases was low among afro-descendant Ecuadorian adolescents in our study. Results of this study might be instrumental in facilitating decision-making processes related to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies in this specific population.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND OR OBJECTIVES UNASSIGNED
HIV/AIDS transmission in Ecuador is considered a concentrated epidemic; therefore, there are some studies on high risk groups but there is limited published data regarding the HIV/AIDS risk factors among adolescents of African descent. In this study, we sought to explore the determinants of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behavior among afro-descendant youths attending schools in the city of Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
METHODS METHODS
A cross-sectional survey among school-attending youths was conducted in Esmeraldas, Ecuador in 2010. Our target population was afro-descendant youths attending the last two years of high school. Thirty public high schools enrolling students in junior and senior years were identified. Outcome data were analyzed in the form of three composite variables. A multivariate linear regression model was built for each outcome.
RESULTS RESULTS
A total of 213 school-attending afro-descendant youths aged 14 to 21 years old were enrolled in this study. Gender distribution was almost equal with a 1:1.17 male to female ratio. Overall, students in this population scored well in comprehensive knowledge of HIV with 88% having medium or higher knowledge.
CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS UNASSIGNED
Knowledge of HIV and its determinants was medium to high, but knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases was low among afro-descendant Ecuadorian adolescents in our study. Results of this study might be instrumental in facilitating decision-making processes related to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies in this specific population.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33101769
doi: 10.21106/ijma.412
pii: IJMA-9-397
pmc: PMC7571538
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

397-407

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2020 Hernandez et al.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Auteurs

Isabel Hernandez (I)

Facultad de Enfermería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, ECUADOR.
Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, ECUADOR.

Vinita Sharma (V)

Global Communicable Diseases, College of Public Health, University of South Florida. Tampa. FL, USA.

Miguel Reina-Ortiz (M)

Global Communicable Diseases, College of Public Health, University of South Florida. Tampa. FL, USA.
Fundación Raíces. Esmeraldas, ECUADOR.

Carlos Rosas (C)

Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, ECUADOR.

Tatiana Ochoa (T)

Global Communicable Diseases, College of Public Health, University of South Florida. Tampa. FL, USA.
Moffitt Cancer Center. Tampa, FL, USA.

Ricardo Izurieta (R)

Global Communicable Diseases, College of Public Health, University of South Florida. Tampa. FL, USA.

Enrique Teran (E)

Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, ECUADOR.

Classifications MeSH