标题：Does Self-Perception of Risk of HIV Infection Make the Youth to Reduce Risky Behaviour and Seek Voluntary Counselling and Testing Services? A Case Study of Nigerian Youth
摘要：The objective is to investigate whether self-perception of risk of HIV infection causes Nigerian youth to reduce risky sexual behaviour and to seek HIV testing. In this population-based qualitative study, indepth interviews were conducted among 90 undergraduates in three Nigerian universities. In each university, three focus group discussions were facilitated for males only, females only, and for both males and females (mixed). Results show that students with low self-perception of HIV infection felt they did not have a need for behavioural change or to do HIV testing. Those with high self-perception were not inclined to reduce risky behaviour or to seek voluntary counselling and testing. The conclusion is that self-perception of risk as a single factor is not enough to seek HIV testing. Corresponding Author: Daniel C. Oshi, Centre for Development and Reproductive Health, Achara Layout, P.O. Box 506, Enugu 400001, Enugu State, Nigeria E-mail: dannyoshi@yahoo.com var currentpos,timer; function initialize() { timer=setInterval("scrollwindow()",10);} function sc(){clearInterval(timer); }function scrollwindow() { currentpos=document.body.scrollTop; window.scroll(0,++currentpos); if (currentpos != document.body.scrollTop) sc();} document.onmousedown=scdocument.ondblclick=initialize SARAH N. OSHI, FRANK O. EZUGWU, DANIEL C. OSHI ET AL. 196 cited in Anugwom, no date). It may also affect his seeking to know his HIV status through HIV testing. Knowledge of whether or not one is infected may in turn help to strengthen risk- averse or risk-reduction behaviour. In deed, it has been argued that this becomes more meaningful and more effective when people know their HIV status. Following this, voluntary counselling and testing has been defined as the 'process by which an individual undergoes confidential counselling to make informed choice about knowing his or her HIV status and to take appropriate action' (IPPF/UNFPA, 2004:1). In developed countries like Britain, such services have begun to attract utilization by target groups (McGarrigle, Mercer, Fenton, Copas, Evens and Johnson, 2005). Among Nigerian youth, studies point to the fact that awareness of HIV/AIDS has not translated to behavioural change. For example, Adedimeji (2003) observes a 100 percent HIV/ AIDS awareness rate among undergraduates in a Nigerian University, yet only five percent of his respondents reported using condoms during casual sexual intercourse with persons they were meeting for the first time. This observation becomes more worrisome when situated within the social practice of possession of multiple sexual partners among the youth in the universities. In one of the states in which our study took place, an earlier study reported that 77 percent of the study sample had initiated sex, and among them 27 percent had multiple sexual partners (Omoregie, 2003). Anugwom (no date) has similarly noted, with disappointment, that as much as 40 percent of his respondents who were also undergraduates did not care to protect themselves against being infected with HIV virus during sexual encounters. In deed, Anugwom observes condoms were used more for the purpose of avoiding pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (other than HIV) than for the purposes of avoiding HIV infection. However, detailed explorations of why awareness has not matched behavioural change remains to be conducted. Why do educated youth who are supposed to know and to champion the course of HIV/AIDS education and enlighten- ment turn out to ignore the message. Could this attitude be related to their self-perception of risk of getting infected with the disease, since they already are aware that the disease exists (Adedimeji, 2003; Anugwom, no date). How do they perceive their susceptibility to being infected with the virus. What are the contextual social and economic factors that shape their adoption of behavioural change vis-à-vis their self- perception of exposure to the infection. How do they perceive and practise HIV testing (voluntary counselling and testing) in view of their self- perception of risk of infection. What contextual factors are important in mediating their attitude and practice of care seeking for HIV testing against the backdrop of their self-perception of risk of infection. These questions were explored through qualitative methodological approach so as to provide an understanding of the lapses in the translation of awareness into positive behavioural change, which is important for the success of any interventions, approaches, policies and programmes geared towards HIV/ AIDS prevention and control in Nigeria and other developing countries. METHODOLOGY Between May and November 2004 qualitative data were collected from undergraduates in three institutions of higher learning in Eastern Nigeria. The institutions include Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), both of which are in Enugu, Enugu State, and Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, Abia State. Thirty students were selected from each university for indepth interviews (IDI), with equal numbers of females and males. Each interview lasted for approxi- mately one and a half hours. The interviews were based on interview guides prepared by the researchers. Three focus group discussions were conducted in each university: one for females only, one for males only and the third for both males and females (mixed). The focus group discussions lasted for two hours, and consisted of six students. Focus group discussions from the Institute of Management and Technology were designated FGD1; FGDs from University of Nigeria Enugu Campus were designated FGD2 and those from Abia State University FGD3. Focus groups for males, females and mixed were designated FGDa, FGDb and FGDc respectively. For example, FGD1a means focus group discussion from IMT for females only. The selection of respondents for the indepth interviews and the focus groups was by the
