Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

HIV/AIDS related knowledge among school-going adolescents from the Middle East and North Africa

Anja Boneberger A E , Simon Rückinger B , Regina Guthold C , Laura Kann D and Leanne Riley C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Munich 80336, Germany.

B Institute for Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich 81377, Germany.

C World Health Organization, Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, Geneva 1211, Switzerland.

D Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.

E Corresponding author. Email: anja.boneberger@med.uni-muenchen.de

Sexual Health 9(2) 196-198 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH11054
Submitted: 29 March 2011  Accepted: 19 July 2011   Published: 30 March 2012

Abstract

The aim of this secondary analysis was to present cross-national data about HIV/AIDS related knowledge among 13- to 15-year-old school-going adolescents from the Middle East and North Africa. Data from 23 673 school-going adolescents from seven countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates) that undertook the Global School-Based Student Health Survey between 2004 and 2008 were analysed. HIV/AIDS related knowledge varied significantly between countries and gender. Research for this sensitive topic is scarce in this region. In addition, schools could be among the many key players for HIV/AIDS education.

Additional keywords: global school-based student health survey, sexual education, sexual knowledge.


References

[1]  Obermeyer CM. HIV in the Middle East. BMJ 2006; 333 851–4.
HIV in the Middle East.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17053246PubMed |

[2]  Dworkin SL, Kambou SD, Sutherland C, Moalla K, Kapoor A. Gendered empowerment and HIV prevention: policy and programmatic pathways to success in the MENA region. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009; 51 S111–8.
Gendered empowerment and HIV prevention: policy and programmatic pathways to success in the MENA region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19553778PubMed |

[3]  UNAIDS. Factsheet Middle East and North Africa. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2011. Available online at: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/factsheet/2010/20101123_FS_mena_em_en.pdf [verified August 2011].

[4]  Al-Jabri AA, Al-Abri JH. Knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate medical and non-medical students in Sultan Qaboos University toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Saudi Med J 2003; 24 273–7.
| 12704503PubMed |

[5]  Al-Serouri AW, Anaam M, Al-Iryani B, Al Deram A, Ramaroson S. AIDS awareness and attitudes among Yemeni young people living in high-risk areas. East Mediterr Health J 2010; 16 242–50.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cjnslGqug%3D%3D&md5=9ecdea15e52944beb286a40ed36cc110CAS | 20795436PubMed |

[6]  Ganczak M, Barss P, Alfaresi F, Almazrouei S, Muraddad A, Al-Maskari F. Break the silence: HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs among Arab university students in United Arab Emirates. J Adolesc Health 2007; 40 572 e1–8.
Break the silence: HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs among Arab university students in United Arab Emirates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[7]  Jaffer YA, Afifi M, Al Ajmi F, Alouhaishi K. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary-school pupils in Oman: II. Reproductive health. East Mediterr Health J 2006; 12 50–60.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28ngsVymug%3D%3D&md5=f453d949f83669875c0bd067d7e0c4f2CAS | 17037221PubMed |

[8]  World Health Organization. Global school-based student health survey (GSHS). Geneva: WHO. Available online at: http://www.who.int/chp/gshs/en/ [verified November 2010].

[9]  DeJong J, Jawad R, Mortagy I, Shepard B. The sexual and reproductive health of young people in the Arab countries and Iran. Reprod Health Matters 2005; 13 49–59.
The sexual and reproductive health of young people in the Arab countries and Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16035597PubMed |

[10]  Tavoosi A, Zaferani A, Enzevaei A, Tajik P, Ahmadinezhad Z. Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among Iranian students. BMC Public Health 2004; 4 17
Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among Iranian students.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15157281PubMed |

[11]  Yazdi CA, Aschbacher K, Arvantaj A, Naser HM, Abdollahi E, Asadi A, et al Knowledge, attitudes and sources of information regarding HIV/AIDS in Iranian adolescents. AIDS Care 2006; 18 1004–10.
Knowledge, attitudes and sources of information regarding HIV/AIDS in Iranian adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28rotVSksQ%3D%3D&md5=f29f01654f5db0ae746f958af8a0b355CAS | 17012092PubMed |

[12]  Bertrand JT, Anhang R. The effectiveness of mass media in changing HIV/AIDS-related behaviour among young people in developing countries. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 2006; 938 205–41; discussion 317–41.
| 16921921PubMed |

[13]  Ayo-Yusuf I, Naidoo S, Chikte UM. The role of primary school teachers in HIV prevention in South Africa. SADJ 2001; 56 596–8.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD387lsFKjug%3D%3D&md5=2913bdef43d15c3900d6a6278c4098e6CAS | 11887445PubMed |

[14]  DiClemente RJ. Preventing HIV/AIDS among adolescents. Schools as agents of behavior change. JAMA 1993; 270 760–2.
Preventing HIV/AIDS among adolescents. Schools as agents of behavior change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3szivFOlsA%3D%3D&md5=cf7608be2b69e7b8c5b80a6a6e6c85e4CAS | 8336381PubMed |