title: Factors associated with perception of risk of contracting HIV among secondary school female learners in Mbonge subdivision of rural Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since learners in secondary schools fall within the age group hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, it is obvious that these learners might be at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. However, little has been explored on the perception of risk of contracting HIV among secondary school learners in Cameroon. This study aimed at examining the perception of risk of contracting HIV among secondary school learners in Mbonge subdivision of rural Cameroon using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as framework.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative, correlational design was adopted, using a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 210 female learners selected through disproportional, stratified, simple random sampling technique, from three participating senior secondary schools. Statistics were calculated using SPSS version 20 software program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 39.4% of the respondents perceived themselves to be at high risk of contracting HIV, though the majority, 54.0% were sexually active. Multinomial logistic regression analyses show that sexual risk behaviours (p=0.000) and the Integrated Value Mapping (IVM) of the perception components of the HBM are the most significant factors associated with perception of risk of contracting HIV at the level p<0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study can play an instrumental role in the development of effective preventive and interventional messages for adolescents in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Network, Cameroon (HIVPREC), Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Elvis Enowbeyang
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Tarkang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010465:Perception; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Health Belief Model (HBM); Mbonge subdivision; Perception of risk; Rural Cameroon; secondary school female learners