Adolescents’ Knowledge and Attitude towards Regular Healthcare as a Way of Improving HIV/STD Testing and Treatment

This study examined the adolescents’ knowledge and attitude towards regular healthcare as a way of improvingHIV/STDs testing and treatment among secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria. This study employedthe descriptive research design type. Two hundred and twenty participants selected through multi-stage stratifiedrandom sampling technique were used for the study. One main instrument was used in collecting data. Data wasanalyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and T-test. Results showed a significantrelationship between students’ knowledge and attitude to regular healthcare on the testing and treatment ofHIV/STDs. Also, a significant difference in the knowledge while no significant difference was found in theattitude of regular healthcare as a factor in the testing and treatment of HIV/STDs among private and publicsecondary schools’ students. A gender difference in attitude toward regular healthcare was observed but not inknowledge. Also, no significant differences were found in the knowledge and attitude towards HIV/STDsTesting and Treatment of single parenting and intact home (both parents) respondents. On the basis of thefindings, it was established that while the majority of secondary students had heard about HIV/STDs, theirknowledge was inadequate. Thus, schools have a role to play in facilitating the access of young people tonecessary reproductive health services and to link education and services so that students may bridge knowledgeand attitudes with action.