Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Background: Eswatini has more than 350 000 of young people between the ages 10-24 years. Education remains a fundamental intervention in ensuring an economic and social developed society with decent work. Eswatini provides free primary education, but faces issues of grade repeating and drop-outs throughout primary and secondary, and overall low enrolment and attendance at higher levels. The education and training sector policy assures the provision of relevant educational and training programmes, and commits the country to inclusive, life-long learning and improvements in access, quality, equity, relevance, efficiency, and delivery of education. Beginning in 2008, the MOET introduced the ‘Schools as Centres of Care a Support’ programme, or Inqaba. In the context of widespread poverty, the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Eswatini, and endemic issues of violence against children, the Inqaba programme strives to promote school environments that are child-friendly, safe, and conducive for learning.

Methods: The systematic analysis of the education situation in Eswatini was prepared in stages: desk review and analysis, consultations/interview meetings with key stakeholders, data analysis and compilation of the report.

Results: Eswatini has an enabling policy environment, combined with free primary education indicating momentous effort to provide quality, appropriate, and affordable education for all. Over 90% of primary-aged children are enrolled in school. The country has not seen the same success at secondary and tertiary levels, only 27% of secondary –school aged children are actually enrolled in school. Young women overwhelmingly (38.3%) report pregnancy as their reason for dropping out. This could explain the high HIV prevalence among young females aged 15-19 years standing at 10.2%, compared to 1.9% for males the same age. In the age group 20-24 years, HIV prevalence amongst females is 38.2%, compared to 12.3% for males in the same age bracket. HIV incidence is also significantly higher amongst young Emaswati females (15-19 years) compared to the males same age group standing at: 3.84 for females compared to 0.84 for males. The protective years of education finish very early among young people, thus making them more vulnerable.

Conclusion: Expansion of the Free Primary Education Act to include the 3 years of junior secondary, thereby becoming a Free Basic Education Act entitling all children to at least 12 years of schooling free of charge. Extending the protective effects of education.

Background: Of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States young African Americans are the most impacted by HIV/AIDS, including rates of new infections and deaths.

Purpose: To determine whether attitude towards condom use differed according to knowledge of HIV/AIDS and demographics such as age, education, income, length of relationships, and years sexually active.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study of 162 young African American men aged 18 to 35 years from an urban geographic area.

Data collection: Demographic and survey data was collected from a metropolitan hospital in northern New Jersey and other local faith-based organizations where young African American men congregate or program network. A ten question paper and pencil survey tool was developed from the Multidimensional Condom Attitude scale; the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire scale; and, the National Sexual Health Survey.

Data analysis: Three hypotheses were tested with correlation statistics. The fourth involved hierarchical multiple linear regression to investigate the ability of HIV/AIDS knowledge to predict attitude towards condoms, after controlling for age, income, years sexually active, education and length of relationship.

Findings: Pearson r analyzed the relationship among the variables since it is sensitive to linear relationships. A positive relationship was found between attitude toward condom use scores with age (r=0.20, p=0.00), income (r=0.29, p=0.000), and knowledge of HIV/AIDS (r=0.39, p=0.000). Younger African American men with less years of sexual activity (r=-0.23, p=0.00) and less knowledge of HIV/AIDS were negatively related to condom use. An independentsample t-test also revealed a significant difference in attitude towards condom use based on the participants’ age group, t(160)=-2.58, p=0.011). The mean attitude score for the 18-24 age group was 19.42, (SD=4.54); for the 24-35 age group it was 21.53, (SD=5.80). Beta values were significant for HIV/AIDS (β=0.28, p=0.002), income (β=0.31, p<0.03), and number of years sexually active (β=-0.38, p=0.000).

Implications: Educational programs and community outreach are needed for the younger African American male to prevent HIV/AIDS and other opportunistic infections by increasing their knowledge and improving their attitudes towards condom use.