title: Youth Awareness on Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and AIDS in Secondary Schools in the Dschang Municipality (Cameroon): The Mobile Caravan Project.
abstract: Awareness is a preventive action to instill in individuals certain concepts to improve their health. It is an essential element in the prevention of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV and early pregnancies among adolescents. In 2012, the prevalence of HIVin Cameroon was estimated at 4.3%. The young population appear to be the most affected (3.2%); very close to that of the Dschang Health District (Cameroon; 3.1%) in the 15-19 years age group. Theaimof this study was to evaluate the contribution of the Mobile Caravan project on the preventive aspect of STI/HIV/AIDS among youths of Dschang in 10 secondary schools within three years. 2029 students joined the project's activities and 58.55% of them belonged to the age group of 16-21 years. Most students attended private schools. Nearly 3/4 of students (1515/2029) had an acceptable level of knowledge regarding STI/HIV/AIDS, which increased in number each year (from 641 to 716 students between 2012 and 2014). The Level of knowledge was significantly determinedby the study cycle (P=0.0004), the type of school (P=0.0027) and the year ofimplementation of activities (P=0.0026). The caravan project has greatly contributed to improving young peoples' awareness on STI/HIV/AIDSin Dschang Municipality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang , Cameroon.
authors.forename: Martin Sanou
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sobze
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang , Cameroon.
authors.forename: Armand Tsapi
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tiotsia
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, La Sapienza University of Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Dongho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang , Cameroon.
authors.forename: Guy Aurelien Foaleng
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tankui
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fokam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang , Cameroon.
authors.forename: Kien-Atsu
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang , Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jimmy Roger
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fotso
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon; Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy; Institute of Medicine Solidale (IMES), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Yannick Ngueko
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Azeufack
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research, Socio-economic Development and Communication (IRESCO) , Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Patrick Pete
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Nkamedjie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Adogaye Ben Bechir
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Rodrigue Biguioh
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mabvouna
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine Solidale (IMES), Rome, Italy; Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ercoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, La Sapienza University of Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
keywords: AIDS; Awareness; Dschang; Mobile Caravan Project; STD/HIV