Understanding HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior among in-school adolescents in Eastern Province of Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study was conceived to investigate the knowledge that girls have about HIV/AIDS and their sexual 
behaviours. The study confirmed earlier research by Goya (2007) and Ben-Zur (2000), who studied 
respectively the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the sexual behaviour and practices of adolescent girls in 
India and Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. The most interesting characteristic in these two studies was 
discrepancy between knowledge of the pandemic and their use of condom and other sexual practices. 
Adolescent girls’ in the study area were relatively well informed about HIV/AIDS but did not put their 
knowledge into safe sexual behaviour. The home and the school need to have more interaction if girls’ 
sexual behaviour will help minimize the incidence of HIV/AIDS.