TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS AND THE KAP OF YOUTH IN WONCHI WOREDA, SOUTH WEST SHOA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The introduction and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into the global human population may have first emerged among humans in the early part of the 20th century. HIV/AIDS is the common cause of death and morbidity among sexually active individuals in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess trends in the prevalence of HIV infection in the selected group of participants in Wonchi Woreda and the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of youth in HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention strategies. Secondary data was obtained through assessing patients’ records from the Woreda health Office and blood test was conducted to identify the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the people who have visited in the study area. The study has shown that HIV/AIDS was more prevalent in female than in male with a range of 1.1%. Youths were the most vulnerable group in the community. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the study subject was 4.5 and decreasing from year to year. More than 84% of the youth groups were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. The number of HIV infected individual highest in 2011 followed by 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 accounted 84, 64, 57, 49 and 35 respectively. Generally the new HIV infection decreasing as the knowledge, attitude and practice of the community increase to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.