HIV Knowledge and Its Association with Sexual Risk Behaviours among Out-of-school Adolescents in Kumba, Southwest Region of Cameroon

Background: Cameroon has a high concentration of out-of-school youth. Therefore research relating to out-of-school adolescents and HIV/AIDS is imperative. This study investigated the HIV/AIDS knowledge and its association with sexual risk behaviours among out-of-school adolescents in Kumba, Cameroon.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of a multistage probability sample of 405 adolescents aged 15-24 years was adopted. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, at the level .05.

Results: Up to 35.9% of the respondents disagreed that correct and consistent condom use can prevent HIV; 31.4% disagreed that having multiple sexual partners is a risk behaviour, and 26.9% disagreed that unprotected sexual intercourse is a risk behaviour. Respondents who disagreed that multiple sexual partner is a sexual risk behaviour reported more multiple sexual partners than those who agreed (X2=19.406; P=.02). Those who agreed that correct and consistent condom use can prevent HIV transmission, reported more condom use during first sex than those who disagreed (X2=17.799; P=.007). Those who agreed that unprotected sex is a risk behaviour, reported more consistent condom use than those who disagreed (X2=20.881; P=.05).

Conclusion: Out-of-school adolescents manifested low knowledge of HIV/AIDS, with those having low knowledge, engaging in unsafe sexual practices, and therefore at risk of HIV/AIDS transmission.