Reducing Stigma through Household–Based HIV/AIDS Education in Ghana: A Case for Behavioural and Attitudinal Change

Abstract

The study was aimed at reducing stigma through household – based HIV/AIDS education. It also targeted promoting behavioural and attitudinal change towards PLWHA in Ghana. A pretest – posttest design based on an intervention model was employed for the study. Quota sampling technique was used to select 3231 fathers and 3579 mothers while stratified sampling technique was used to select 3810 adolescent boys and 3552 girls from 3543 households for the study. The instrument used to collect data was a written questionnaire. The data was analysed using SPSS version 15. The study revealed that as a result of the intervention, more households in Ghana have now heard of HIV/AIDS. More people also now know that HIV is not the same as AIDS. They also realized that abstinence from sex and condom use are sure ways of avoiding contracting the virus. The study established that the major sources of information about HIV/AIDS are radio, TV, schools and print media. The attitude of respondents changed towards PLWHA drastically after the intervention. However, statistically significant differences were noted among fathers, mothers, adolescent boys and girls in the areas of having heard of HIV/AIDS before, awareness that HIV is not the same as AIDS, and what causes HIV AIDS. It is concluded that household – based education is a powerful mode of reducing stigma. It should therefore be pursued vigorously if the fight against HIV/AIDS is to succeed.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p311