KNOWLEDGE, PERCEIVED RISK OF AIDS AND SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AMONG PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN 2 AREAS OF TANZANIA

This study was designed to assess levels of AIDS knowledge, perceived risk of AIDS, attitudes towards sex and self-reported sexual behavior in primary school children. We collected anonymous questionnaire data from primary school children, fifth through seventh graders, in select ed schools in Poli division, Arusha region, and in Bukoba urban and ru ral districts, Kagera region, Tanzania in 1991. A total of 711 student s from Poli and 408 from Bukoba participated. The results indicated th at knowledge of AIDS increased with increasing age and was higher amon g students from Bukoba than among students from Poli. Eighty-six perce nt of the students reported that they perceived AIDS as a serious thre at to primary school children and 96% reported that they themselves we re very afraid of getting AIDS. Girls reported more restrictive attitu des towards sex than did boys and boys reported having had sexual inte rcourse more often than did girls (38 versus 15%). Students from Poli reported more often than students from Bukoba having engaged in sexual intercourse (31 versus 18%). Children in high HIV/AIDS prevalence are as seem to have more knowledge about AIDS and also report tower levels of risk behavior than do primary school children in low prevalence ar eas.