title: HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual behaviour among junior high school students in New Providence, Bahamas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine accuracy of knowledge and sexual behaviour patterns of junior high school students in New Providence towards HIV/AIDS and identify gender variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling of classrooms was undertaken at two schools utilizing a questionnaire. SPSS was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and fifty-four students participated in the study; the mean age was 12.25 years, 55.1% males and 44.9% females. Most (88%) students identified sexual intercourse as a mode of HIV transmission, 62.5% were accurate regarding anal sex and 32.9% were accurate about sexual intercourse in the water, as modes of HIV transmission. Abstinence was identified as a method of HIV prevention by 54.1% of students although 85.2% of students knew that condoms were a method of prevention. On beliefs regarding transmission, 21.2% believed mosquito bites and 13.1% believed toilet seats were routes for disease spread. Only 16.9% of participants reported a history of sexual intercourse; of those, 57.6% indicated that they were age ≤ 10 years when they first had intercourse. Concerning use of birth control, 64.5% of sexually experienced respondents reported never using any method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Junior high school students have fairly accurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS but misconceptions regarding transmission are still prevalent; patterns in gender variation are few.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, New Providence Bahamas. sspinder@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinder-Butler
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, New Providence Bahamas.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frankson
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, New Providence Bahamas.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanna-Mahase
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, New Providence Bahamas.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001444:Bahamas; D002648:Child; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires