Social impediments to the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS in young adults in Cameroon State Universities

Abstract

The low socio-economic status of countries South of the Sahara, coupled with little education on sexuality and reproductive health, have favoured the vast majority of infections still occurring in developing countries. Information was collected with the aid of a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 565 young adults in the University Towns ofYaounde, Dchang, Bamednda, and Buea. Of the questionnaires returned 46% (261) were females and 54% (304) males aged mainly between 21-30 years. The survey showed that people began having intercourse at an early age, regardless of the sex of the subjects. 10% were virgins, 13% had their first sexual contact by the age 15. 18% had 3-5 and amazing 2% had 6-9 partners. Considering the perception of how soon they went to bed after the first meeting, 15% had done so on the same day, 22% a few days later, 29% weeks later and 34% months later. 37% had either been pregnant or impregnated someone in the past three years. 91% of these pregnancies were not carried to term. The average cost of abortion was 27 USD, with a range of 3-135 USD.  On the whole, the respondents had some knowledge about STIs with 82% of the respondents describing it as a disease obtained through sex. 77% of the respondents had never had an STD, and of the 23% who had, reported gonorrhea as the predominant infection. Those who had STDs had reported to medical doctors (67%), nurses (12%), pharmacists (9%) and traditional doctors(2%). Their Views of the best method of AIDS prevention were diversified.28% agreed that the best means was through the use of condoms, 32% rated behavioural change first and 39% subscribed for abstinence as the best approach. Further more, most of these students engage in more leisure activities rather than lucrative hobbies.