Abstract

Virgy Onyene, Ngozi Uzoka, Nonye Ikonta and T. V. Bakare

This is a multi-phased study that addresses the issue of tertiary institution based programme for awareness creation in order to integrate HIV/AIDS issues and concerns into social relationships. The purpose of the study was to develop simple communication tool combinations and ascertain through sensitization the potency of the tools to increase HIV/AIDS pandemic awareness among students in Nigerian tertiary institutions of learning. Ten tools were administered and later categorized for same purpose on 100 and 200 level students of two Universities and two Colleges within Lagos metropolis. Each of the items in the questionnaire is biased, with such democratic principles of inclusion, equity and justice. Data were analysed and descriptive statistics used to reveal the quality of each tool as well as to predict their control potency over students’ sexual behaviour and social cohabitation. Among the study findings are that the respondents have, at 25%, a limited knowledge of HIV/AIDS awareness; and 25% were indifferent to awareness programmes due to religious practices and belief, among others. It was recommended that institutions of higher learning should create a centre for HIV/AIDS sensitization and control which will adopt these sensitization tools and integrate them into general courses and relevant campaign procedures.