COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION AWARENESS OF HIV/AIDS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the information awareness of HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in rural and urban areas of Delta State Nigeria. The paper briefly examines the importance of information and the present state of HIV/AIDS in the globe. Questionnaire was the major instrument used in collecting data for this survey. Two secondary schools were purposively selected from the rural and urban areas of the state. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and T-test for the research questions and hypothesis respectively. Result showed that majority of students in rural and urban areas are aware of HIV/AIDS epidemic. The result also showed that hospital is the most effective information sources through which they get information about HIV/AIDS. Hypothesis tested, revealed that there is no significant difference between the students in rural and urban area on the information source through which they receive information about HIV/AIDS. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference between students in the rural and urban areas in the effectiveness of the information sources. It was recommended that public libraries and school libraries which rated low in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information should be established and reinforced in both rural and urban areas of the state.