Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 13, No. 1, 2015
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/5102.31.0160
Comparison of Perception of HIVIAIDS Risk and Sexual Risk Behaviours Among Youths with and without Disabilities in Oyo State, Nigeria
Umoren, Anietie MI. and Adejumo, Adebayo A.
Dept of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
The study investigated the perception of HIV/AIDS risk and sexual risk behaviours among youths with disabilities (YWD) in comparison with youths without disabilities (comparison group). The study adopted a cross-sectional survey with 362 participants comprising 181 YWD with visual impaired 29(16%), physically challenged 40 (22.1%) and hearing impaired 112 (61.9%) and comparison group (N = 181). A 19-item structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was revalidated and found to be highly reliable and valid for the study. Kruskal-Wallis test for differences was used to determine the differences in perception of HIVIAIDS risk and sexual risk behaviours among the two groups as well as t-test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in perception of HIV/AIDS risk between YWD and the comparison group [X2 = (1) = 27.79, p < 0.01)] as well as a significant difference in sexual risk behaviours among the two groups [X2 = (1) = 23.117, p < 0.01)).. The t-test also revealed a significant difference between the groups on sexual risk behaviours [t(360) = 4.926, P < 0.01)]and HIV/AIDS risk [t(360) = 5.301, P < 0.01)). It was further reported that YWD recorded higher sexual risk behaviour (x = 9.35, SD = 4.137, n = 181) than the comparison group t= 7.48, SD = 3.00S, n =181). This trend was also reported on HIV/AIDS risk, with YWD recording higher (x= 14.56, SD =6.537, n = 181) than the comparison group t= 11.23, SD = 5.385, n = 181). The findings of the paper were duly discussed with far reaching recommendations for policy making. The study offers a new understanding of the perception of the HIV/AIDS risk and sexual risk behaviour in this group of youth population as well as provide relevant stakeholders with new vista in handling HIV/AIDS issues and sexuality of the disabled