KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SWAZILAND (UNISWA) STUDENTS TOWARDS HIV AND AIDS: A COMPARISON OF STATUS AT ENROLLMENT TO EXIT FROM UNISWA

Abstract

Despite decades that have passed after its discovery in 1981, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to be the leading health problem globally, with the burden worse in Sub-Saharan Africa. As of the end of 2014, about 36.9 million people were living with HIV globally, out of which 25 million were in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS 2015). This has had a massive economic impact on the region and the world at large. According to UNAIDS (2015), up to about US$ 20.2 billion was devoted to the fight against AIDS in low-and middle-income countries at the end of 2014. This calls upon for more preventing measures, globally.