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CHAPTER I

BACKGROUND AND SETTING

Introduction

HIV and AIDS are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases

in the world and are considered pandemic by the World Health Organization. HIV

Stands for Human Immunodeficiency Disorder. It causes slow but constant

damage to the immune system. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency

Syndrome. It is the condition diagnosed when there are a group of related

symptoms that are caused by advanced HIV infection which makes the body

vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses called opportunistic infections. . No

wonder it has been asserted that HIV/AIDS is the most dreaded disease in

human history, and that while God forgives, HIV/AIDS does not.

The UNAIDS (2011) cautions that young people aged 15–24 years have

been at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2009, they comprised 41% (5

million) of all new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among adults

worldwide. HIV/AIDS are serious public health issues which are the significant

causes of mortality regardless of age, gender or race. The first case of HIV

infection in the Philippines was reported in January 1984. The number of young

people with HIV infection has been rising or considerable in the Philippines which

a five-fold increase in new HIV infections among those aged 15-24 was reported

in 2007-2009 (DOH, 2011). Due to their risk and vulnerability, the adolescent
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populations in the Philippines have been the target group of various HIV

prevention programs.

According to the UNDP, the Philippines is one of only seven countries

globally where HIV cases have risen by an alarming 25 percent or more since

2001. Lack of public education about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, as well as

the shame of living with the disease, also prevent many from acknowledging

infections and seeking help, health experts said. Unprotected sex remains

extremely common in the gay community in the Philippines, according to the

roots of the Philippines our society is very conservative in terms of sexual

orientation, people are not open to talking about sex much less about men

having sex with men.” (https://hivtestkit.ph/hiv-in-the-philippines/)

In the 2013 study of the University of the Philippines Population Institute

(UPPI), young people are more at risk of HIV contraction. Pre-marital sex among

the youth rose to 32 percent from 18 percent in 1994. The study showed that in

2013, 6.2 million Filipino youth had premarital sex, and more than half of this

number—4.8 million young people—indulged in unprotected sex. HIV and AIDS

are threats for humanity in the world especially in developing countries.

(https://www.manilatimes.net/more-young-filipinos-hiv-positive/85420/)

There has been a steep increase in the number of new cases of AIDS and

HIV in the Philippines year after year more specifically in localities where there

were no massive HIV/AIDS awareness programs implemented. Adolescents of

developing countries have partial knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The awareness

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level of some areas in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao about this

syndrome is not satisfactory.

As of the 2017 statistics from Dr. Mely Lastimoso, Coordinator of City

Health Office Social Hygiene Clinic, there have been a number of men and

women and LGBTQ members in Malapatan, Sarangani Province who died of

AIDS while other adolescents are living with HIV.

Consequently, adolescents in said barangay are poorly educated, often do

not get a proper education at school and consequently no sexual education and

information about HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. When

adolescents in this barangay are not fully aware and knowledgeable about

HIV/AIDS, more and more of them will be vulnerable in contracting HIV which

leads to AIDS.

In the foregoing report mentioned above, the researcher would like to

assess the Level of Awareness on HIV/AIDS amongst adolescents in Sapu

Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani Province. This would be an avenue in developing

health education relative to HIV/AIDS.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the Level of Awareness on HIV/AIDS

amongst adolescents in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani Province through

their answers of the following questions, to wit:

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1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

a. age

b. sex

c. civil status

d. educational background

e. Religion

f. Ethnicity

2. What is the level of awareness of respondents in terms of:

a. mode of transmission

b. signs and symptoms

c. detection/ diagnostic tests

d. prevention/ precautionary measures

e. effects

3. How do the Respondents become aware of HIV/AIDS?

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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The researcher of this study uses the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the

Health Belief Model (HBM), and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). SCT,

HBM, and TRA are the theoretical frameworks used to guide the current study.

First, the three theories are the dominant theories of health behavior, promotion,

and education (Glanz, Lewis, & Rimer, 1997). Moreover the theories used in the

study have guided past HIV/AIDS campaigns. The three micro level theories are

important for the current research because they focus on individual behavior

change versus macro level approaches or theories.

Social Cognitive Theory Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) has its foundation

in psychology and it branched from social learning theory, which focuses on the

psychosocial elements of health behaviors and tools for promoting behavior

change. The theory describes the psychosomatic through the lens of what people

think based on their perceptions and its effect on their behaviors (Perry,

Baranowski, & Parcel, 1990). SCT was developed by Albert Bandura during the

mid-1980s and is used by many researchers in health communication because it

encompasses aspects of health behavior and mass media effectiveness. The

main tenets of the theory for behavior changes help to construct health

educational media (Maibach, 1993). Maibach (1993) wrote: As a theory of

behavior, social cognitive theory has achieved the highest standards of utility, in

that it can predict behavior, it can explain behavior, and most importantly, it can

be used to help correct dysfunctional behaviors. A significant concept of social

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cognitive theory is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief that a person can

successfully carry out a specific behavior that will lead to a desired outcome

(Rosenstock, Strecher, & Becker, 1994). Self-efficacy is used to distinguish what

people’s beliefs in their abilities are and if they can change their current situation.

The main focus is a person’s confidence to overcome any situation under given

circumstances. Self-efficacy is an important AIDS prevention strategy in

HIV/AIDS campaigns through encouraging enhancements in AIDS prevention

self-efficacy. Secondly, self-efficacy is important because it allows for modeling

appropriate AIDS behaviors in order to increase a person’s self-efficacy

(Maibach, 1993). SCT aids in the realization that it is crucial to inform people

about the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and also provide the best means of

protecting oneself from becoming infected.

Health Belief Model (HBM) is another psychological model that aids in

predicting and explaining behaviors. The HBM postulates that individual behavior

changes are based on how serious a person believes is the perceived threat of

contracting the disease or illness. If the perceived threat is high, then there is a

greater probability that the individual will adhere to the recommendations in order

to reduce the threat (Rosenstock et al., 1994). The model was developed during

the 1950s through the U.S. Public Health Service when a group of social

psychologists wanted to explain why people were not interested in participating in

programs designed to protect them from various diseases such as tuberculosis

screenings. Hochbaum, one of the founding fathers of the model, decided not to

focus on why people did not take part in the screenings, but focus on why people
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did participate in the screenings. One of the main variables researched in the

1950s study was perceived susceptibility to health threat that is a part of the

principles that shape the HBM (Rosenstock, 1990). The model suggests that

readiness to engage in a health behavior follows from a perceived threat of

disease, coming from an individual’s perception of his or her susceptibility to the

disease and its potential severity. The cue for action is a triggering device

stimulated by a private perception or by communication from the media or other

people. Behavior is evaluated from an estimate of the potential benefits of

engaging in the recommended health behavior to reduce susceptibility or

severity. The benefits are then weighed against perceptions of physical,

psychological, financial, and other costs or barriers inherent in the recommended

health behavior. Demographic, social, structural, and personality factors are

included in the model because they are believed to indirectly influence behavior.

(p.100) The different components of the HBM have been used in several

research studies to examine the relationship between its postulates and

characteristics that are associated with an individual being at a higher risk for

HIV/AIDS. Survey-based research that has tested principles of the HBM against

knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with HIV/AIDS risk has found

that perceptions of the disease can have an impact on a person’s behaviors.

The Theory Reasoned Action (TRA) incorporates variables from the HBM.

TRA was first introduced during the late 1960s though the theory incorporated

more changes during the 1970s and 1980s. Scholars Icek Ajzen and Martin

Fishbein expanded the theory in order to study human behaviors. However, by

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the late 1980s another component was added to the theory to address some of

the shortcomings of the TRA. The other component was perceived behavioral

control that led to the theory of planned behavior (Kashima, Gallois, &

McCamish, 1992). The TRA focuses on the connections between the beliefs,

attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. The theory has been used to explain why

people do or do not participate in various behaviors (Fishbein, Middlestadt, &

Hitchcock, 1994). A main theoretical underpinning of the theory is that the actual

intention to partake in the behavior has a direct effect on that behavior, which is

more pronounced when the intention and behavior are close in time. A person’s

intention to partake in a given behavior is predicted by the person’s attitude

toward the behavior (Kashima, Gallois, & McCamish, 1992). Carter (1990) wrote:

The strength of a person’s intention to perform a specific behavior is a function of

two factors: attitude toward the behavior and the influence of the social

environment or general subjective norms on the behavior. Attitudes and

subjective norms each have two components. Attitude toward the behavior is

determined by an individual’s belief that a given outcome will occur if he or she

performs the behavior and by an evaluation of the outcome. (p.68) In terms of the

use of theory of reasoned action for HIV/AIDS prevention, various variables

within the theory could be used to examine behaviors associated with HIV/AIDS

infection/prevention. Moreover, different people from different cultures could have

various ideas of what is considered a high risk behavior and what is considered a

normal behavior. The theory of reasoned action implies that intervention

programs aiming to bring about health-promoting behavior need to take at least

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the following factors into account: the specific group of people at which

interventions are targeted, the type of behavior that is targeted for change, and

the causal influences on the intentions relevant to this behavior.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will give significant contribution to the following, to

wit:

To the researcher. The findings of this study will enable the researcher to

determine the level of awareness of adolescents on HIV/AIDS which shall be

submitted to the school administration, local and national governments and other

organizations for reference.

To the midwives. The findings will help them to come up with health

education programs, projects and activities (PPAs) for adolescents in Sapu

Padidu, Malapatan which will be presented to the Barangay and Municipal Local

Chief Executives and partner agencies for support and funding.

To the adolescents. The findings of this study will serve as basis for

adolescents to be aware of the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the

municipality which will enable them to become more aware and cautious about

engaging into any form of sexual activities.

To the future researchers. The findings of this study will serve as reference

of future researchers as they undertake the same or related HIV/AIDS studies in

the future.
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To the MMG Administration. The findings of this study will be an

addendum to the existing body of knowledge and literature on the Level of

Awareness on HIV/AIDS amongst adolescents. Also, this will help the school

formulate awareness activities for its students.

To the Department of Health. The findings of this study will drive the

Health Department to prioritize this pressing problem by allocating sufficient

budget for the realization of various awareness programs for adolescents in both

urban and rural communities.

The Municipal Health Office. The findings of this study will help the MHO

to formulate and strategize effective and efficient ways of conducting massive

information campaigns or/and dissemination that will significantly increase the

level of awareness of all adolescents in the Municipality including families,

patients and even future researchers.

Scope and Limitations

This study is delimited only in determining the level of awareness on

HIV/AIDS of adolescents in terms made in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani

Province whose age ranges from 12-19 years old both from in-school and out-of-

school adolescents. This study will be conducted for the month of December.

Definitions of Terms

The following are the terms operationally defined to understand this study.
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Knowledge. This refers to the facts, feelings or experiences known by

respondents; the state of knowing; awareness, consciousness, or refers to

respondents’ familiarity gained by experience or learning; specific information

about a subject”. In this study, knowledge refers to an awareness that the

respondents had of HIV/AIDS (how people know and can get the HIV virus, and

preventive measures against the virus).

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This refers to a lentivirus (a

subgroup of retrovirus) that causes HIV infection and over time acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this study, HIV destroys the biological

ability of the human body to fight opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis. A

person can be infected with HIV for a long time without showing any symptoms of

the disease. Nonetheless, he or she can transmit the infection to uninfected

people through sexual intercourse with them.

AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This refers to a condition

in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-

threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. In this study, it is how

much deterioration of the immune system has taken place as seen by the

presence of opportunistic infections. Virtually all infected persons will eventually

die from the disease, unless they succumb to something else first. Most will be

dead within ten years of infection and many will die even sooner.

ADOLESCENTS refers to young person developing into adult. In this

study, respondents will be young people aged 12-19 years old in selected

barangays in Malapatan, Sarangani Province.

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Sapu Padidu in Malapatan. This refers to chosen barangay in Malapatan.

In this study, respondents of the study come from said chosen barangay.

UNAIDS or The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and

AIDS (UNAIDS). This refers to main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive

and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In this study, UNAIDS

stated that adolescents are the forefront of HIV/AIDS worldwide.

WHO or The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to specialized

agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. In

this study, WHO presented facts on the results of this study and findings on

HIV/AIDS.

DOH or The Philippine Department of Health refers to the executive

department of the Philippine government responsible for ensuring access to

basic public health services by all Filipinos through the provision of quality health

care and the regulation of all health services and products. In this study, DOH

claimed that the number of young people with HIV infection has been rising or

considerable in the Philippines.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

AND STUDIES

AIDS was first clinically observed in 1981 in the United States. The initial

cases were a cluster of injecting drug users and homosexual men with no known

cause of impaired immunity who showed symptoms of Pneumocystis carinii

pneumonia (PCP), a rare opportunistic infection that was known to occur in

people with very compromised immune systems. Soon thereafter, an unexpected

number of homosexual men developed a previously rare skin cancer called

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Many more cases of PCP and KS emerged, alerting U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a CDC task force was

formed to monitor the outbreak.

In the early days, the CDC did not have an official name for the disease,

often referring to it by way of the diseases that were associated with it, for

example, lymphadenopathy, the disease after which the discoverers of HIV

originally named the virus. They also used Kaposi's sarcoma and opportunistic

infections, the name by which a task force had been set up in 1981. At one point,

the CDC coined the phrase "the 4H disease", since the syndrome seemed to

affect heroin users, homosexuals, hemophiliacs, and Haitians. In the general

press, the term "GRID", which stood for gay-related immune deficiency, had

been coined. However, after determining that AIDS was not isolated to the gay

community, it was realized that the term GRID was misleading and the term AIDS

was introduced at a meeting in July 1982. By September 1982 the CDC started

referring to the disease as AIDS.

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In 1983, two separate research groups led by Robert Gallo and Luc

Montagnier declared that a novel retrovirus may have been infecting people with

AIDS, and published their findings in the same issue of the journal Science. Gallo

claimed that a virus his group had isolated from a person with AIDS was strikingly

similar in shape to other human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) his group had

been the first to isolate. Gallo's group called their newly isolated virus HTLV-III. At

the same time, Montagnier's group isolated a virus from a person presenting with

swelling of the lymph nodes of the neck and physical weakness, two

characteristic symptoms of AIDS. Contradicting the report from Gallo's group,

Montagnier and his colleagues showed that core proteins of this virus were

immunologically different from those of HTLV-I. Montagnier's group named their

isolated virus lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV). As these two viruses

turned out to be the same, in 1986, LAV and HTLV-III were renamed HIV.

Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 are believed to have originated in non-human

primates in West-central Africa and were transferred to humans in the early 20th

century. HIV-1 appears to have originated in southern Cameroon through the

evolution of SIV(cpz), a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) that infects wild

chimpanzees (HIV-1 descends from the SIVcpz endemic in the chimpanzee

subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes). The closest relative of HIV-2 is

SIV(smm), a virus of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys), an Old World

monkey living in coastal West Africa (from southern Senegal to western Côte

d'Ivoire). New World monkeys such as the owl monkey are resistant to HIV-1

infection, possibly because of a genomic fusion of two viral resistance genes.

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HIV-1 is thought to have jumped the species barrier on at least three separate

occasions, giving rise to the three groups of the virus, M, N, and O.

There is evidence that humans who participate in bushmeat activities,

either as hunters or as bushmeat vendors, commonly acquire SIV. However, SIV

is a weak virus which is typically suppressed by the human immune system

within weeks of infection. It is thought that several transmissions of the virus from

individual to individual in quick succession are necessary to allow it enough time

to mutate into HIV. Furthermore, due to its relatively low person-to-person

transmission rate, SIV can only spread throughout the population in the presence

of one or more high-risk transmission channels, which are thought to have been

absent in Africa before the 20th century.

Specific proposed high-risk transmission channels, allowing the virus to

adapt to humans and spread throughout the society, depend on the proposed

timing of the animal-to-human crossing. Genetic studies of the virus suggest that

the most recent common ancestor of the HIV-1 M group dates back to circa

1910. Proponents of this dating link the HIV epidemic with the emergence of

colonialism and growth of large colonial African cities, leading to social changes,

including a higher degree of sexual promiscuity, the spread of prostitution, and

the accompanying high frequency of genital ulcer diseases (such as syphilis) in

nascent colonial cities. While transmission rates of HIV during vaginal intercourse

are low under regular circumstances, they are increased many fold if one of the

partners suffers from a sexually transmitted infection causing genital ulcers. Early

1900s colonial cities were notable due to their high prevalence of prostitution and
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genital ulcers, to the degree that, as of 1928, as many as 45% of female

residents of eastern Kinshasa were thought to have been prostitutes, and, as of

1933, around 15% of all residents of the same city had syphilis.

An alternative view holds that unsafe medical practices in Africa after

World War II, such as unsterile reuse of single use syringes during mass

vaccination, antibiotic and anti-malaria treatment campaigns, were the initial

vector that allowed the virus to adapt to humans and spread.

The earliest well-documented case of HIV in a human dates back to 1959

in the Congo. The earliest retrospectively described case of AIDS is believed to

have been in Norway beginning in 1966. In July 1960, in the wake of Congo's

independence, the United Nations recruited Francophone experts and

technicians from all over the world to assist in filling administrative gaps left by

Belgium, who did not leave behind an African elite to run the country. By 1962,

Haitians made up the second largest group of well-educated experts (out of the

48 national groups recruited), that totaled around 4500 in the country. Dr.

Jacques Pépin, a Quebecer author of The Origins of AIDS, stipulates that Haiti

was one of HIV's entry points to the United States and that one of them may

have carried HIV back across the Atlantic in the 1960s. Although the virus may

have been present in the United States as early as 1966, the vast majority of

infections occurring outside sub-Saharan Africa (including the U.S.) can be

traced back to a single unknown individual who became infected with HIV in Haiti

and then brought the infection to the United States some time around 1969. The

epidemic then rapidly spread among high-risk groups (initially, sexually

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promiscuous men who have sex with men). By 1978, the prevalence of HIV-1

among homosexual male residents of New York City and San Francisco was

estimated at 5%, suggesting that several thousand individuals in the country had

been infected.

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system

helps the body fight off infections. Untreated HIV infects and kills CD4 cells,

which are a type of immune cell called T cells. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4

cells, the body is more likely to get various types of infections and cancers.

HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include blood, semen, vaginal

and rectal fluids and breast milk. The virus doesn’t spread in air or water, or

through casual contact.

HIV is a lifelong condition and currently there is no cure, although many

scientists are working to find one. However, with medical care, including

treatment called antiretroviral therapy, it’s possible to manage HIV and live with

the virus for many years. Without treatment, a person with HIV is likely to develop

a serious condition called AIDS. At that point, the immune system is too weak to

fight off other diseases and infections. Untreated, life expectancy with AIDS is

about three years. With antiretroviral therapy, HIV can be well-controlled and life

expectancy can be nearly the same as someone who has not contracted HIV.

AIDS is a disease that can develop in people with HIV. It’s the most

advanced stage of HIV. But just because a person has HIV doesn’t mean they’ll

develop AIDS. HIV kills CD4 cells. Healthy adults generally have a CD4 count
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of 500 to 1,500 per cubic millimeter. A person with HIV whose CD4 count falls

below 200 per cubic millimeter will be diagnosed with AIDS.

A person can also be diagnosed with AIDS if they have HIV and develop

an opportunistic infection or cancer that’s rare in people who don’t have HIV. An

opportunistic infection, such as pneumonia, is one that takes advantage of a

unique situation, such as HIV. Untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS within a

decade. There’s no cure for AIDS, and without treatment, life expectancy after

diagnosis is about three years. This may be shorter if the person develops a

severe opportunistic illness. However, treatment with antiretroviral drugs can

prevent AIDS from developing.

If AIDS does develop, it means that the immune system is severely

compromised. It’s weakened to the point where it can no longer fight off most

diseases and infections. That makes the person vulnerable to a wide range of

illnesses, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, oral thrush, a fungal infection in the

mouth or throat, cytomegalovirus (CMV), a type of herpes virus, cryptococcal

meningitis, a fungal infection in the brain, toxoplasmosis, a brain infection caused

by a parasite, cryptosporidiosis, an infection caused by an intestinal parasite and

cancer, including Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoma

The shortened life expectancy linked with untreated AIDS isn’t a direct

result of the syndrome itself. Rather, it’s a result of the diseases and

complications that arise from having an immune system weakened by

AIDS. Learn more about possible complications that can arise from HIV and

AIDS.
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To develop AIDS, a person has to have contracted HIV. But having HIV

doesn’t necessarily mean that someone will develop AIDS. Cases of HIV

progress through three stages. The first stage is the acute stage which is the first

few weeks after transmission. The second stage is the clinical latency or chronic

stage. The third stage is AIDS. As HIV lowers the CD4 cell count, the immune

system weakens. A typical adult’s CD4 count is 500 to 1,500 per cubic millimeter.

A person with a count below 200 is considered to have AIDS.

How quickly a case of HIV progresses through the chronic stage varies

significantly from person to person. Without treatment, it can last up to a decade

before advancing to AIDS. With treatment, it can last indefinitely.

There is no cure for HIV, but it can be controlled. People with HIV often

have a near-normal lifespan with early treatment with antiretroviral therapy. Along

those same lines, there’s technically no cure for AIDS. However, treatment can

increase a person’s CD4 count to the point where they’re considered to no longer

have AIDS. (This point is a count of 200 or higher.) Also, treatment can typically

help manage opportunistic infections.

Some of the ways HIV is spread from person to person include vaginal or

anal sex — the most common route of transmission, especially among men who

have sex with men, by sharing needles, syringes, and other items for injection

drug use, by sharing tattoo equipment without sterilizing it between uses during

pregnancy, labor, or delivery from a woman to her baby, during breastfeeding,

and through “pre-mastication,” or chewing a baby’s food before feeding it to

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them, through exposure to the blood of someone living with HIV, such as through

a needle stick.

The virus can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion or organ

and tissue transplant. However, rigorous testing for HIV among blood, organ, and

tissue donors ensures that this is very rare in the United States. It’s theoretically

possible, but considered extremely rare, for HIV to spread through oral sex (only

if there are bleeding gums or open sores in the person’s mouth), being bitten by

a person with HIV (only if the saliva is bloody or there are open sores in the

person’s mouth), contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes

and the blood of someone living with HIV.

HIV does NOT spread through skin-to-skin contact, hugging, shaking

hands, or kissing, air or water, sharing food or drinks, including drinking

fountains, saliva, tears, or sweat (unless mixed with the blood of a person with

HIV), sharing a toilet, towels, or bedding and mosquitoes or other insects. It’s

important to note that if a person with HIV is being treated and has a persistently

undetectable viral load, it’s virtually impossible to transmit the virus to another

person.

Causes of HIV. HIV is a variation of a virus that infects African

chimpanzees. Scientists suspect the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)

jumped from chimps to humans when people consumed infected chimpanzee

meat. Once inside the human population, the virus mutated into what we now

know as HIV. This likely occurred as long ago as the 1920s.

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HIV spread from person to person throughout Africa over the course of

several decades. Eventually, the virus migrated to other parts of the world.

Scientists first discovered HIV in a human blood sample in 1959. It’s thought that

HIV has existed in the United States since the 1970s, but it didn’t start to hit

public consciousness until the 1980s. Learn more about the history of HIV and

AIDS in the United States.

Causes of AIDS. AIDS is caused by HIV. A person can’t get AIDS if they

haven’t contracted HIV. Healthy individuals have a CD4 count of 500 to 1,500 per

cubic millimeter. Without treatment, HIV continues to multiply and destroy CD4

cells. If a person’s CD4 count falls below 200, they have AIDS. Also, if someone

with HIV develops an opportunistic infection associated with HIV, they can still be

diagnosed with AIDS, even if their CD4 count is above 200.

Early symptoms of HIV. The first few weeks after someone contracts HIV

is called the acute infection stage. During this time, the virus reproduces rapidly.

The person’s immune system responds by producing HIV antibodies. These are

proteins that fight infection. During this stage, some people have no symptoms at

first. However, many people experience symptoms in the first month or two after

contracting the virus, but often don’t realize they’re caused by HIV. This is

because symptoms of the acute stage can be very similar to those of the flu or

other seasonal viruses. They may be mild to severe, they may come and go, and

they may last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Early symptoms of HIV can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes,

general aches and pains, skin rash, sore throat, headache, nausea and upset
 22

stomach. Because these symptoms are similar to common illnesses like the flu,

the person with them might not think they need to see a healthcare provider. And

even if they do, their healthcare provider might suspect

the flu or mononucleosis and might not even consider HIV.

Whether a person has symptoms or not, during this period their viral

load is very high. The viral load is the amount of HIV found in the bloodstream. A

high viral load means that HIV can be easily transmitted to someone else during

this time. Initial HIV symptoms usually resolve within a few months as the person

enters the chronic, or clinical latency, stage of HIV. This stage can last many

years or even decades with treatment.

HIV symptoms can vary from person to person. Symptoms of HIV. After

the first month or so, HIV enters the clinical latency stage. This stage can last

from a few years to a few decades. Some people don’t have any symptoms

during this time, while others may have minimal or nonspecific symptoms. A

nonspecific symptom is a symptom that doesn’t pertain to one specific disease or

condition.

These nonspecific symptoms may include headaches and other aches

and pains, swollen lymph nodes, recurrent fevers, night sweats, fatigue, nausea,

vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, skin rashes, recurrent oral or vaginal yeast

infections, pneumonia and shingles. As with the early stage, HIV is still infectious

during this time even without symptoms and can be transmitted to another

person. However, a person won’t know they have HIV unless they get tested. If
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someone has these symptoms and thinks they may have been exposed to HIV,

it’s important that they get tested.

HIV symptoms at this stage may come and go, or they may progress

rapidly. This progression can be slowed substantially with treatment. With the

consistent use of this antiretroviral therapy, chronic HIV can last for decades and

will likely not develop into AIDS, if treatment was started early enough.

Symptoms of AIDS. AIDS refers to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. With

this condition, the immune system is weakened due to HIV that’s typically gone

untreated for many years. If HIV is found and treated early with antiretroviral

therapy, a person will usually not develop AIDS.

People with HIV may develop AIDS if their HIV is not diagnosed until late,

or if they know they have HIV but don’t consistently take their antiretroviral

therapy. They may also develop AIDS if they have a type of HIV that’s resistant to

(doesn’t respond to) the antiretroviral treatment. Without proper and consistent

treatment, people living with HIV can develop AIDS sooner. By that time, the

immune system is quite damaged and has a harder time fighting off infection and

disease. With the use of antiretroviral therapy, a person can maintain chronic HIV

infection without developing AIDS for decades.

Symptoms of AIDS can include recurrent fever, chronic swollen lymph

glands, especially of the armpits, neck, and groin, chronic fatigue, night sweats,

dark splotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids, sores, spots,

or lesions of the mouth and tongue, genitals, or anus, bumps, lesions, or rashes

of the skin, recurrent or chronic diarrhea, rapid weight loss, neurologic problems
 24

such as trouble concentrating, memory loss, and confusion, anxiety and

depression.

AIDS symptoms in men are quite similar to the symptoms of AIDS in all

genders. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV (human immunodeficiency

virus). People with HIV may have symptoms in the very beginning of their

infection, like swollen glands, fever, headaches, or muscle soreness.

You may not have any symptoms at all for up to 10 years. At that point,

HIV begins to make it hard for your body to fight off infections, so you can get

infections that normally wouldn’t affect you.

When your immune system reaches a certain point of weakness, that’s

when HIV becomes AIDS. The symptoms of AIDS in men include thrush — a

thick, whitish coating of the tongue or mouth that’s caused by a yeast infection

and sometimes accompanied by a sore throat, severe and frequent infections,

extreme and unexplained tiredness that may be combined with headaches,

lightheadedness, and/or dizziness, quick loss of more than 10 pounds of weight

that’s not from increased exercise or dieting, bruising more easily than normal,

long periods of frequent diarrhea, frequent fevers and/or night sweats, swelling or

hardening of glands located in your throat, armpit, or groin, persistent, deep, dry

coughing, shortness of breath, discolored or purplish growths on your skin or

inside your mouth, unexplained bleeding from growths on your skin, from your

mouth, nose, anus, or from any opening in your body, frequent or unusual skin

rashes, severe numbness or pain in your hands or feet, loss of muscle control
 25

and reflex, paralysis, or loss of muscular strength, and confusion, personality

change, or decreased mental abilities

Meanwhile, the symptoms of AIDS in women include thrush — a thick,

whitish coating of your tongue or mouth that’s caused by a yeast infection and

sometimes accompanied by a sore throat, severe or frequent vaginal yeast

infections, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease , severe and frequent infections,

extreme and unexplained tiredness that may be combined with headaches,

lightheadedness, and/or dizziness, quick loss of more than 10 pounds of weight

that’s not from increased exercise or dieting, bruising more easily than normal,

long periods of frequent diarrhea, frequent fevers and/or night sweats, swelling or

hardening of glands located in your throat, armpit, or groin, persistent, deep, dry

coughing, shortness of breath, discolored or purplish growths on the skin or

inside the mouth, unexplained bleeding from growths on your skin, from your

mouth, nose, anus, or vagina, or from any opening in the body, frequent or

unusual skin rashes, severe numbness or pain in your hands or feet, the loss of

muscle control and reflex, paralysis, or loss of muscular strength, and confusion,

personality change, or decreased mental abilities

If you’ve had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, HIV testing — is

essential. Early and consistent treatment of HIV can boost your immune system

and help you stay healthy.

 26

Antiretroviral therapy controls the virus and usually prevents progression

to AIDS. Other infections and complications of AIDS can also be treated. That

treatment must be tailored to the individual needs of the person.

The first documented case of AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa was in 1982.

Since then the disease has had its toll on every part of Africa. So far the

developed countries have been able to control the pandemic in their population

through primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention.

HIV/AIDS. In 2017, about 1.8 million adolescents between the ages of 10

and 19 were living with HIV worldwide. Adolescents account for about 5 per cent

of all people living with HIV and about 16 per cent of new adult HIV infections.

The regions with the highest numbers of HIV-positive adolescents are sub-

Saharan Africa and South Asia. Of the 1.8 million adolescents living with HIV,

about 1.5 million (85 per cent) live in sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescents aged 15 to

19 account for an estimated 16 per cent of new adult HIV infections worldwide.

Globally, in 2017, adolescent girls accounted for two thirds of all new HIV

infections among adolescents. In sub-Saharan Africa that year, nearly three times

as many adolescent girls were newly infected with HIV than adolescent boys. In

North America, East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean,

Middle East and North Africa and Western Europe, more boys are newly infected

with HIV each year than girls in adolescence. This reflects differences in risk

behavior in these regions, which means that interventions must be tailored to the

specific nature and dynamic of the epidemic.

 27

HIV virus is still a killer disease among the youth. Adolescents represent a

growing share of people living with HIV worldwide. In 2017 alone, 590,000 young

people between the ages of 15 to 24 were newly infected with HIV, of whom

250,000 were adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. To compound this,

most recent data indicate that only 23 per cent of adolescent girls and 17 per

cent of adolescent boys aged 15-19 in Eastern and Southern Africa – the region

most affected by HIV – have been tested for HIV in the past 12 months and

received the result of the last test. The testing rates in West and Central Africa

and South Asia are even lower. If current trends continue, hundreds of thousands

more will become HIV-positive in the coming years. Additionally, AIDS-related

deaths among adolescents have increased over the past decade while

decreasing among all other age groups, which can be largely attributed to a

generation of children infected with HIV perinatally who are growing into

adolescence.

In the USA, it is stated that adolescents constitute the largest HIV/AIDs

invisible population. Present figures worldwide suggest there are 10.3 million HIV

adolescents whose age range is from 15 to 24. Given the challenge of HIV/AIDS

that adolescents encounter, it is vital that their awareness of the risks associated

with sexual behavior is made clear, and the importance of applying this

knowledge to real life experience According to the African Population Health

Research Center (2009), adolescence is an important period in human

development where a person reaches sexual maturity, manifest in sexual

engagement; thus encountering the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted

 28

diseases such as HIV. It is concluded that adolescents who are at the most

reproductive stage of their human development are more at HIV/AIDS risk than

any other population group. For this reason and more, it deserves more attention

in combating infection and transmission of HIV/ AIDS. The preceding narration

partly served as a backdrop of the motivation to undertake an investigation of

HIV/AIDS knowledge and high school adolescents in Kenya. Nevertheless, there

is need to explore similar studies that have examined HIV/AIDS in association

with adolescents, which will be briefly narrated in subsequent advocacy.

Many studies conducted in respect to identify the awareness of

adolescents about HIV/AIDS. Major trend about age is that ‘age is positively

related to knowledge and information’. Same conclusion showed in the study of

Schvaneveldt et. al, (1990) that U.S. children's stage of development correlated

with the accuracy of their replies to questions about AIDS. Bulow (1998); Koniak-

Griffin and Brecht (1997) examined developmental concepts in relation to AIDS

and showed that risk taking behavior in adolescence is positively related to both

age and knowledge of AIDS.

Studies illustrate the different ideas about the knowledge of adolescents.

Young et. al. studies proved the accurate knowledge of Thai young people for

AIDS. James et. al (2004) carried out the study about the adolescents’

knowledge about HIV/ AIDS/ STI in which 1113 young people were participated.

Study revealed that the participants’ knowledge level were high for causes and

spread of STIs. Other study was performed by Campbell and Mbizvo (1994) for

the same cause in the context of Zimbabwe. Result was almost the same that
 29

young generation had the high knowledge about AIDS. Carducci et. al. (1995)

revealed that young people in Italy had sufficiently informed about AIDS. Other

study by Sekirime et. al, (2001) in Uganda revealed that males were three times

more likely to contract STDs than females, knowledge on methods of prevention

about STDs was high (>90%). In Malaysian students perspective Zulkifli and

Wong (2002) posit that average score for knowledge on HIV/ AIDS was high in

520 participants. One study of Blanc and Way (1998) on women knowledge

about AIDS and its prevention revealed the fact that the majority of women

adolescent know about contraceptive methods. In general, however, adolescent

women are less likely to be knowledgeable about family planning than are adult

women.

Wagbatsoma and Okojie (2006); WHO (1988) survey findings revealed

that students were aware of AIDS, but had poor knowledge of its aetiology.

Moreover, Baldwin and Baldwin (1988) illustrated the behavior of students

involved in risky behavior for AIDS had no worry about the disease or assessing

themselves to be at risk. A study in Indian (Mumbai) culture performed by Patil

(2001) analyze that 6% out of 120 male adolescents were aware about STDs, No

one aware about HIV and 96% aware about AIDS disease. Study in Korean

perspective by Yoo et. al, (2005) about knowledge, attitudes, related behaviors

and sources of HIV/ AIDS information among 1077 high school aged students

showed that Korean adolescents’ knowledge was moderate. 94.4% believed that

they need to receive HIV prevention education.

 30

After a long-standing failure to address the HIV epidemic among young

people, there are now clearer guidelines from WHO for strengthening

programmes focused on young people living with, and at-risk of, HIV.

With the number of young people due to double in Africa by 2050,

increased efforts will be needed to avoid new infections among young people

from rising. That is because, even if the progress in reducing the HIV incidence

rate among young people is maintained, the estimated number of new HIV

infections among adolescents is projected to climb to 270,000 annually by 2025

and 300,000 annually by 2030. If progress were to slow, these numbers could

climb even higher.

In some areas, progress is already being made. For example, the age of

sexual debut is rising, the number of sexual partners among young people is

falling, and the uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision is most popular

among people younger than 25.

Still, young people are routinely forgotten in national strategic plans to

tackle the HIV epidemic, especially those that also fall under other key affected

populations. They are not targeted with age-appropriate HIV prevention

programmes and data about their vulnerability is not collected. As a result, young

people are often forgotten and excluded from national HIV responses.

The medical advances that have transformed HIV treatment have yet to

alter the stark reality for young people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and for

young people from key affected populations. Larger, more rigorous studies of
 31

young people in all their diversity are needed to better understand HIV incidence

and HIV care.

Engaging young people is key to protecting their health and addressing

the HIV epidemic as a whole. Enabling young people to be meaningfully engaged

in the design and delivery of integrated SRHR and HIV programmes, as well as

understanding the way in which age and other contexts such as gender and

sexuality impact on access, are key to the provision of effective interventions.

In 2015, UNICEF and UNAIDS, in partnership with other international

health and development partners, launched ALL IN! to End Adolescent AIDS.

This global initiative established 2020 targets towards ending the AIDS epidemic

among adolescents by 2030. To achieve this, it is critical to accelerate efforts to

address the epidemic among adolescents.

Young people (10 to 24 years) and adolescents (10 to 19 years),

especially young women and young key populations, continue to be

disproportionately affected by HIV. In 2016, 2.1 million people aged between 10

and 19 years were living with HIV and 260,000 became newly infected with the

virus. The number of adolescents living with HIV has risen by 30% between 2005

and 2016.

The number of adolescents dying due to AIDS-related illnesses tripled

between 2000 and 2015, the only age group to have experienced a rise. In 2016,

55,000 adolescents between the ages of 10-19 had died through AIDS-related
 32

causes. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among young people in Africa

and the second leading cause of death among young people worldwide.

The majority of young people living with HIV are in low- and middle-

income countries. This means that, even if current progress is maintained, new

HIV infections among young people are expected to increase. If progress stalls,

the results could be devastating. Estimates suggest that as many as 740,000

additional adolescents could become infected between 2016 and 2030.

HIV also disproportionately affects young men who have sex with men,

young people who use drugs, young transgender people and young sex workers.

In Asia, 95% of young people diagnosed with HIV fall into at least one of these

groups. Young people are vulnerable to HIV at two stages of their lives; early in

the first decade of life when HIV can be transmitted from mother-to-child,

sometimes known as vertical transmission (see children and HIV), and the

second decade of life when adolescence brings new vulnerability to HIV.

Around 70% of adolescents living with HIV will have acquired it through

vertical transmission and so will have been living with the virus since birth.18

Whilst programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) have been

hugely successful in recent years, reducing new infections among adolescents is

more difficult.

There are many factors that put young people at an elevated risk of HIV.

Adolescence and early adulthood is a critical period of development when

significant physical and emotional changes occur. Adolescents and young people
 33

have growing personal autonomy and responsibility for their individual health.

The transition from childhood to adulthood is also a time for exploring and

navigating peer relationships, gender norms, sexuality and economic

responsibility.

Considerable data gaps exist in our knowledge of HIV among adolescents

and young people. This is particularly the case for younger adolescents because

of the challenges in getting parental approval for their involvement in surveys and

a lack of age-appropriate questions. Where data exist, limited sample sizes and

lack of disaggregation limits the available evidence to inform programming. In

part because of these gaps, adolescents and young people are often missing

from national HIV strategic plans, particularly interventions beyond PMTCT.

Excluding vertical transmission, unprotected sex is the most common

route of HIV infection for young people, with sharing infected needles the second.

For some, this is a result of not having the correct knowledge about HIV and how

to prevent it, highlighting the need for HIV and sexual and reproductive health

and rights (SRHR) education. For others, it is the result of being forced to have

unprotected sex, or to inject drugs.

The age of sexual debut is rising, showing a positive change in attitudes

among young people with regards to sexual behaviour. However, it is still

relatively low in many countries, particularly in Africa, and lower among

adolescent girls than boys in low- and middle-income countries.

 34

It is common for young people to become sexually active by late

adolescence. UNICEF estimates that between 30-50% of girls will give birth to

their first child before 19. While only a small percentage of adolescents will

become sexually active before the age of 15 (roughly 11% for girls), evidence

suggests that some children as young as five are exposed to sexual activities

directly or indirectly. Child marriage is a key driver of early sexual debut, and in

some settings up to 45% of adolescent girls reported that their first sexual

experience was forced.

Condom use among young people and adolescents remains relatively low.

Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in sub-Saharan Africa between

2010 and 2015 report less than 60% of young women (aged 15 to 24) with

multiple partners used a condom during their last sexual intercourse in 19 of 23

countries. In 15 out of 23 countries there were similar results for young men.

The number of sexual partners young people have is falling, although it

remains high in countries most affected by the HIV epidemic. For example, more

than a quarter of young men in Lesotho, Madagascar and eSwatini are thought to

be in multiple relationships.

Young people may also belong to other key affected populations such as

sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs or

transgender people. Not only do young people from key populations face

widespread discrimination, stigma and violence they also face specific

vulnerabilities associated with youth, including power imbalances in relationships

and, sometimes, the impact of alienation from family.35 Young people within key
 35

populations often have lower knowledge of HIV risks, or lower ability to mitigate

those risks, compared with their older, more experienced counterparts.

There is varying data on the age of entry of children into sexual

exploitation and young people into sex work. It is estimated that 40% of female

sex workers in North America, East and South Asia begin selling sex before the

age of 18.38 In Bangladesh, many start before they reach 12-years-old,39 and in

India, studies suggest that 17% of female sex workers began selling sex before

the age of 15. A 2011 study from Ukraine found that 20% of female sex workers

were aged 10-19.

Research shows that adolescents under 18 who sell sex are highly

vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), have higher

levels of HIV and STIs than older sex workers, and have limited access to

services such as HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. Young sex workers face

many of the same barriers to HIV prevention as their older counterparts including

the inability to negotiate condom use and legal barriers to HIV and sexual health

services, which are amplified by their age.

Despite their vulnerabilities, young people who sell sex are severely

under-represented in research on HIV and sex work. Although secondary

analysis from biological and behavioural surveys between 2011–2015 found HIV

prevalence among young sex workers to be 28% in Cameroon, 42% in Rwanda,

15% Senegal, and 33% in Zimbabwe.

 36

Most studies of sex workers do not disaggregate programme outcomes by

age, and no accurate global estimates exist of the number of young people

engaged in selling sex. Data on the prevalence of 10 to 17 year-olds who are

sexually exploited is particularly weak. In general, even fewer data are available

on young men and young transgender people who sell sex than on young

women who do so.

Young transgender people’s immediate HIV risk is related primarily to

sexual behaviour, especially unprotected anal sex. Some young transgender

people also sell sex or inject street drugs, silicon and hormones, putting them at

even higher risk of acquiring HIV. Experiences of stigma, discrimination, abuse,

exploitation and violence, including sexual violence, are common.

There is little global data on the HIV among young transgender people but

individual studies suggest high HIV prevalence. For example, in Indonesia, HIV

prevalence among transgender people was found to be 5.4% among 15 to 19-

year-olds and 14.2% among 20 to 24-year-olds.

A US-based study of transgender women who reported being HIV

negative or unaware of their status found 8% of those aged 13–19 years were

living with HIV.

A study of ethnic-minority transgender women aged 16 to 25 years in

Chicago, United States of America (USA), found 22% reported being HIV

positive. The majority of respondents (59%) reported exchanging sex for money

or other resources. A comparable proportion (19%) of transgender women aged

 37

15–24 years reported being HIV positive in Chicago and Los Angeles, USA.

Again, the majority (67%) reported selling sex. HIV prevalence among those who

sold sex (23%) was almost four times as high as among transgender women in

the same age group with no history of selling sex.

Available data suggest that young men who have sex with men have

greater HIV risk than both heterosexual young people and older men who have

sex with men. Men who have sex with men are becoming HIV-positive at a

younger age. An estimated 4.2% of men who have sex with men aged 25 and

under are living with HIV, compared to 3.7% among all men who have sex with

men.

Young men who have sex with men are often more vulnerable to the

effects of homophobia (manifested in discrimination, bullying, harassment, family

disapproval, social isolation and violence), as well as criminalisation and self-

stigmatisation. This can have serious repercussions for their physical and mental

health and their ability to access HIV testing, counselling and treatment.

Use of drugs or alcohol and selling sex contribute to HIV risk and

represent overlapping vulnerabilities that some young men who have sex with

men share with other young key populations. Young MSM are often unable to

respond effectively to homophobia because of their age – they have no income,

no employment, and they are dependent on family for housing. If they get kicked

out, and they often do, they end up on the street where they may be forced to

trade sex for food, shelter or protection.

 38

Current methods of gathering and reporting data make it impossible to

calculate a reliable global estimate of the number of young people who inject

drugs. HIV prevalence among young people who inject drugs worldwide is

estimated at 5.2%.However, it is much higher in certain countries. A secondary

analysis from biological and behavioural surveys found 23% HIV prevalence in

Greece, 17% in Myanmar, 34% in Pakistan and 25% in Thailand among young

people who inject drugs.

A significant proportion of young people who inject drugs become infected

with HIV within the first 12 months of initiation. In Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam,

24% of people who inject drugs under 25 years had started injecting within the

previous 12 months, and of these, 28% were infected with HIV. An East

European multi-country study of injecting drug users (aged 15 to 24 years) found

that up to 30% reported their age at first injection as less than 15 years old.

Young people who inject drugs are more likely than older people to lack

knowledge about safer injecting practices and HIV prevention, and to be unaware

of risks to their health.63

There are often age restrictions on accessing harm reduction services,

forcing young people away from services and denying them help to overcome

their addiction.64 Someone who starts injecting drugs in their youth should be

prioritised for harm reduction services, not denied them.Young people are often

forgotten in national HIV and AIDS plans which typically focus on adults and

children. Consequently, there are a lack of youth-friendly health services.

 39

Ethical and legal issues make it difficult to conduct studies and research

on people under 18, limiting what data is available about how HIV affects young

people.66 Despite this, there is now a global effort to collect disaggregated data

on adolescents and young people across three 5-year age bands around: 10-14,

15-19 and 20-24. However, these age groups are not well defined internationally

and even vary within countries, making data collection and its reliability very

complex.

The risks of HIV infection, the challenges of accessing services and the

solutions to these challenges change at different stages of someone’s life. As a

result, UNAIDS recommends the adoption of a ‘life-cycle approach’ to HIV

prevention, which responds to the changing contexts that people face at different

ages.69 A life-cycle approach means examining the biological, social and

behavioural factors that independently, cumulatively and interactively affect

adolescents’ and young people’s vulnerability to HIV and the lives of those living

with HIV.

In the Philippines, of the 24,936 HIV-positive cases reported from 1984 to

2015, 93% (23,291) were infected through sexual contact of which 79% (18,023)

was through homosexual and bisexual contact while heterosexual contact

comprised the remaining 14% (3,273). 5% (1,096) of cases was caused by

needle sharing among injecting drug users, 0.3% (73) through mother-to-child

transmission, <0.1% (20) through blood transfusion and needle prick injury

<0.1% (3). No data is available for 1.7% (375) of the cases.

 40

Cumulative data shows 24% (5,268) were infected through heterosexual

contact, 47% (11,023) through homosexual contact, and 30% (7,000) through

bisexual contact. From 2007 there has been a shift in the predominant trend of

sexual transmission from heterosexual contact (20%) to males having sex with

other males (80%).

Most-at-risk groups include men who have sex with men (MSM), with 395

new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among within this group

from January to February 2013 alone, 96% up from 2005’s 210 reported

infections. A spokesperson of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the

Department of Health says that the sudden and steep increase in the number of

new cases within the MSM community, particularly in the last three years (309

cases in 2006, and 342 in 2013), is "tremendously in excess of what (is) usually

expected," allowing classification of the situation as an "epidemic". Of the

cumulative total of 1,097 infected MSMs from 1984 to 2008, 49% were reported

in the last three years (72% asymptomatic); 108 have died when reported, and

slightly more MSMs were reportedly already with AIDS (30%).

Among MSM's, ninety percent of the newly infected are single (up to 35%

of past cases reported involved overseas Filipino workers or OFWs and/or their

spouse), with the most of the affected people now only 20 to 34 years old (from

45 to 49 years old in the past). The highest number of infections among MSMs is

from Metro Manila. An HIV surveillance study conducted by Dr. Louie Mar

Gangcuangco and colleagues from the University of the Philippines-Philippine

General Hospital showed that out of 406 MSM tested for HIV from entertainment
 41

areas in Metro Manila, HIV prevalence using the rapid test was 11.8% (95%

confidence interval: 8.7- 15.0). Increasing infection rates were also noted in the

cities of Angeles, Cebu, and Davao. 1 to 3 percent of MSM's were found to be

HIV-positive by sentinel surveillance conducted in Cebu and Quezon cities in

2001.

Another at-risk group are injecting drug users (IDUs), 1 percent of whom

were found to be HIV-positive in Cebu City in 2005. A high rate of needle sharing

among IDUs in some areas (77 percent in Cebu City) is of concern. Sex workers,

because of their infrequent condom use, high rates of sexually transmitted

infections (STIs), and other factors, are also considered to be at risk. In 2002,

just 6 percent of sex workers interviewed said they used condoms in the last

week. As of 2005, however, HIV prevalence among sex workers in Cebu City

was relatively low, at 0.2 percent.

The threats and effects that AIDS/HIV brings to the population is a severe

cause for concern. However, the prevalence of virus within the Philippine

population remains low despite an increase in the number of cases. In fact, the

Philippines qualifies as one of the few countries where the growth of AIDS/HIV

cases has approximately increased to 25% from in a span of a couple of years

from 2001-2009.

The rise in the number of cases can be best categorized by specific

groups in the population. First, the age group that is most affected are 15–24

years old. Young professionals engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse is the

main cause for the contraction and it accounts for one third of the AIDS/HIV-
 42

infected population. Furthermore, the infection within this age group is more

prevalent with homosexual relationships.

The regional population that is greatly affected by AID/HIV is in Cebu. The

prevalence rate is at 7.7% which is greater than the major cities of Manila at

6.7% and Quezon City at 6.6%. Recent data show that the surge is not caused

by transmission through sexual intercourse but through an increase of people

injecting drugs. It is not the injectable drugs but the sharing of needles, which

opens the risk of transmission of fluids, greatly exposing the risk of contracting

the virus.

Several factors put the Philippines in danger of a broader HIV/AIDS

epidemic. They include increasing population mobility within and outside of the

Philippine islands; adverse to publicly discussing issues of a sexual nature; rising

levels of sex work, casual sex, unsafe sex, and injecting drug use.

There is also high STI prevalence and poor health-seeking behaviors

among at-risk groups; gender inequality; weak integration of HIV/AIDS responses

in local government activities; shortcomings in prevention campaigns; inadequate

social and behavioral research and monitoring; and the persistence of stigma

and discrimination, which results in the relative invisibility of PLWHA. Lack of

knowledge about HIV among the Filipino population is troubling. Approximately

two-thirds of young women lack comprehensive knowledge on HIV transmission,

and 90 percent of the population of reproductive age believe you can contract

HIV by sharing a meal with someone.

 43

The Philippines has high tuberculosis (TB) incidence, with 131 new cases

per 100,000 people in 2005, according to the World Health Organization. HIV

infects 0.1 percent of adults with TB. Although HIV-TB co-infection is low, the

high incidence of TB indicates that co-infections could complicate treatment and

care for both diseases in the future.

Wary of Thailand’s growing epidemic in the late 1980s, the Philippines

was quick to recognize its own sociocultural risks and vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS.

Early responses included the 1992 creation of the Philippine National AIDS

Council (PNAC), the country’s highest HIV/AIDS policymaking body. Members of

the Council represent 17 governmental agencies, including local governments

and the two houses of the legislature; seven nongovernmental organizations

(NGOs); and an association of PLWHA.

The passing of the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act in 1998

was also a landmark in the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS. However, the

Philippines is faced with the challenge of stimulating government leadership

action in a low-HIV-prevalence country to advocate for a stronger and

sustainable response to AIDS when faced with other competing priorities. One

strategy has been to prevent STIs in general, which are highly prevalent in the

country.

The PNAC developed the Philippines’ AIDS Medium Term Plan: 2005–

2010 (AMTP IV). The AMTP IV serves as a national road map toward universal

access to prevention, treatment, care, and support, outlining country-specific

targets, opportunities, and obstacles along the way, as well as culturally

 44

appropriate strategies to address them. In 2006, the country established a

national monitoring and evaluation system, which was tested in nine sites and is

being expanded. Antiretroviral treatment is available free of charge, but only 10

percent of HIV-infected women and men were receiving it as of 2006, according

to UNAIDS. This lack of distribution can be attributed to the focus of health

spending towards disease specific programs instead of spending on public health

which is more comprehensive and addresses multiple diseases. By spending on

public health in general, the country would be able to strengthen the health

system by creating effective health infrastructures that could carry out vertical

programs without creating brain drain or hindering the economic development of

the country. Without passable local infrastructure, health improvements would not

be possible as distribution of medical care and medicines would be very limited;

incidence and prevalence reports may not be accurate, and progress of health

initiatives could not be tracked.

Photographer Niccolo Cosme launched the Red Whistle campaign in

2011, inspired by red disaster preparedness whistles, to raise awareness and

understanding of HIV/AIDs in the Philippines.

The Philippines uses antiretroviral treatment (ART) to treat people with

HIV/AIDS. This treatment involves using different kinds of drugs such as

zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine.[16]

In other countries, PrEP and PEP have been widely used especially by

sex workers and other sex active. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s

a daily pill that can help prevent HIV. If you don’t have HIV, taking PrEP every
 45

day can lower your chances of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. PrEP is

also known by the brand name Truvada.

PrEP isn’t right for everybody. PrEP is for people who don’t have HIV and

are at higher risk for getting HIV. You may want to talk with a doctor or nurse

about PrEP if you don’t regularly use condoms, have a sexual partner who has

HIV (sometimes called serodiscordant, serodifferent, magnetic, or mixed status

couples), have a sexual partner who is at high risk for getting HIV (like if they

have anal or vaginal sex with other people without condoms, or they’re an

injection drug user), have anal or vaginal sex with many partners, especially if

you don’t use condoms regularly, recently had another STD (like chlamydia,

gonorrhea, or syphilis), do sex work that includes vaginal or anal sex, have

injected drugs, shared needles, or been in treatment for drug use in the past 6

months. If you’re at high risk for HIV and you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant,

or breastfeeding, PrEP may also help you and your baby avoid getting HIV.

If you use it correctly, PrEP can lower your chances of getting HIV from

sex by more than 90%. And using condoms and PrEP together helps you stay

even safer. PrEP can also lowers your chances of getting HIV from sharing

needles by more than 70%. It’s really important to take PrEP every day. PrEP

doesn’t work as well if you skip pills. If you don’t take it every day, there might not

be enough medicine in your body to block HIV.

PrEP doesn’t prevent other sexually transmitted infections, like gonorrhea

and chlamydia. So use condoms along with PrEP to help you avoid other STDs
 46

and give you extra protection against HIV. PrEP is very safe. No serious

problems have been reported in people who are taking PrEP. PrEP may cause

side effects like nausea, loss of appetite, and headaches. These side effects

aren’t dangerous and they usually get better with time, once your body gets used

to PrEP. Most people on PrEP have no side effects at all.

PEP stands for post exposure prophylaxis. PEP is a series of pills you can

start taking very soon after you’ve been exposed to HIV that lowers your chances

of getting it. But you have to start PEP within 72 hours, or 3 days, after you were

exposed to HIV, or it won’t work. The sooner you start, the better it works —

every hour matters.

You take PEP 1-2 times a day for at least 28 days. The medicines used in

PEP are called antiretroviral medications (ART). These medicines work by

stopping HIV from spreading through your body. PEP is for people who may have

been exposed to HIV in the last 3 days. PEP might be right for you if you had sex

with someone who may have HIV and didn’t use a condom, or the condom

broke, you were sexually assaulted, you shared needles or works (like cotton,

cookers, or water) with someone who may have HIV

PEP is for emergencies. It can’t take the place of proven, ongoing ways to

prevent HIV — like using condoms, taking PrEP (a daily pill that lowers your

chances of getting HIV), and not sharing needles or works. PEP isn’t just a one-

time pill — it’s a regimen where you take many pills over many weeks. PEP isn’t

100% effective, and it won't prevent future HIV infections like PrEP can.
 47

There can be side effects of PEP, like stomach aches and being tired. But

PEP side effects aren’t dangerous, and they can be treated. If PEP doesn’t work,

you may have symptoms of the first stage of an HIV infection, like a fever or rash.

Another method that is being used is lab examination, which will help

monitor the patient’s ART or antiretroviral drug level. Since treatment for

HIV/AIDS is based on a case to case level, this will determine how the patient will

be treated.

The antiretroviral drug does not kill the virus that causes the disease. It’s

simply a way to help fight infection. This way, the patient prolongs his/her life

even with the disease. With this being said, patients have to go undergo lab

examinations depending on their respective cases and receive this treatment

throughout their existence. It is a form of therapy that they would have to undergo

The government will handle most of the costs in association with the

disease. The initial treatment will costs the government P7,920 a year. As of April

20th, 2015, the Department of Health (DOH) mentioned that they plan to buy

P180 million worth of ARV or antiretroviral drugs to be used in ART.

The Philippines passed a legislation on HIV/AIDS during the first decade

of Filipino infections. However, the bill's scope was minimal due to the lack of

knowledge regarding the virus in the Philippines at the time. In 2016, lawmakers

from the House of Representatives passed the New HIV bill, while the Senate's

version is in political limbo, as conservative senators, notably Tito Sotto, Manny

 48

Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva, and Win Gatchalian have vowed to block the bill in its

current form. The bills filed are the most comprehensive in more than 20 years.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the rise in the number of Human

Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among Filipino adolescents could become

“tomorrow’s epidemic.” During the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

presentation of the “State of the World’s Children,” DOH National Epidemiology

Center director Dr. Eric Tayag said that in 2010, one out of three HIV patients is

from the 15-24 year old bracket.

The number of Filipino adolescents who are HIV-positive increased

drastically in the last four years, from 44 cases in 2006 to 484 in 2010. Patients

who contract HIV before they are 24 years old will most likely develop Acquired

Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) before the age of 40, Thus, the continuous

rise in the number of HIV-positive adolescents will translate into an increase in

the number of AIDS patients in the country, he added.

In April 2017, there were 629 new HIV antibody sero-positive individuals

reported to the HIV/ AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) [Table 1].

More than half were from the 25-34 year age group while 30% were youth aged

15-24 years. 33 adolescents aged 10-19 years were reported. All were infected

through sexual contact (8 male-female sex, 19 male-male sex, 6 sex with both

males & females). From January 1984 to April 2017, 1,606 (4%) of the reported

cases were 19 years old and below. Seven percent (111 out of 1,606) were

children (less than 10 y/o) and among them, 108 were infected through mother-

to-child transmission, 1 through blood transfusion and 2 had no specified mode

 49

of transmission. Ninety three percent (1,495 out 1,606) were adolescents. Among

these, 1,359 (91%) were male. Most (93%) of the adolescents were infected

through sexual contact 185 male-female sex, 843 male-male sex, 367 sex with

both males & females), 85 (6%) were infected through sharing of infected

needles, 8 (<1%) through mother-to-child transmission, and 7 had no specified

mode of transmission.

According to the UNICEF report, the Philippines is one of only seven

countries where HIV cases increased by more than 25 percent from 2001 to

2009. A total of 6,015 HIV cases have been reported in the country from 1984 to

2010. The highest number of new HIV cases was recorded in 2010, where 1,591

new cases were reported.

HIV/AIDS in PHL has an ‘adolescent face’. UNICEF’s “State of the World’s

Children” report for 2011 focused on adolescents, who make up almost one-fifth

of the world’s population. UNICEF data showed that more than half of the world’s

adolescents, or about 330 million, are in Asia.

In the Philippines, there are about 20 million people between the ages 15

and 24. UNICEF country representative Vanessa Tobin said there is no doubt

that HIV/AIDS in the Philippines has “an adolescent face. The DOH said the

youth have a higher risk of acquiring HIV because of substantial peer pressure

for risk-taking, the limited opportunities to learn about preventing HIV infection,

and the lack of skills to communicate their health needs.

 50

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the procedure which will be followed in conducting

the study. This includes the research design, the locale of the study, the

respondents of the study, the data gathering instruments, sampling design and

the statistical tools to be used in the study.

The Research Design

The researcher will use the descriptive survey design study. The design

will be used to determine and describe the level of awareness on HIV/AIDS

among Adolescents.

The researcher uses descriptive survey design because it subjects or

participants are observed in a natural and unchanged environment. It may also

be a pre-cursor to future research because it can be helpful in identifying

variables that can be tested and the data collection allows for gathering in-depth

information that may be either quantitative (surveys) or qualitative (observations

or case studies) in nature. This allows for a multifaceted approach to data

collection and analysis.

 51

Level of Awareness of Adolescents on HIV/AIDS

Demographics: Research Design: Descriptive

 Age
 Sex
 Civil Status
 Educational Background
Locale of Study: Selected Barangays in Malapatan
 Religion
 Ethnicity

Respondents: Adolescents

Sampling Technique
Level of Awareness of Respondents in terms of:
 Mode of transmission
 Signs and Symptoms
 Detection/ Diagnostic Tests Instrument
 Prevention/Precautionary Measures
 Effects

Statistical Tool

Health Education Programs on HIV/AIDS

Figure 2. Research Design

 52

Research Locale

This study will be conducted in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani

Province in order to get a comprehensive data and results of the study.

Malapatan is considered one of the poorest municipalities in Sarangani Province

which has 12 component barangays.

Sampling Techniques

The researcher will utilize random sampling technique in collecting data on

the level of awareness of adolescents on HIV/AIDS.

30 adolescent respondents which ages range from 12-19 years old which

is composed of five (5) from Grade 8, five (5) from Grade 9, 2 girls and five (5)

from Grade 10, five (5) from Grade 11, five (5) from Grade 12, and five (5) from

the adolescent out-of-school youth.

Research Procedure

The researcher will conduct the research based on detailed procedures

which include sending out official letter/communication asking for authority or

permission to conduct the research, formulation of questionnaire validation,

validation of questionnaire, carrying out suggestions and comments made by the

validators, submission of the research to the grammarian for proofreading and

corrections, formulation of Cebuano version of the questionnaire, submission of

 53

the research to the statistician for the whole statistics to be used, distribution of

questionnaires to the respondents of the study, collection of answers from the

respondents and collation and tabulation of data utilizing the weighted mean.

Data Gathering Instruments

The data gathering tool to be use in the study is the interview guide

questionnaire. The questionnaire for the respondents includes the profile and

demographics of the respondents, educational attainment, and their level of

awareness on HIV/AIDS.

The interview guide questionnaire will be validated by the experts in the

field of research. The examiners of this research will validate questionnaires and

evaluate its validity. The validators will be composed of physicians from social

hygiene clinic and nurses with Master’s Degree.

Data Collection

The data collection will be done from January December 7-11, 2019. Data

gathered from the respondents will be analyzed by nurses from social hygiene

clinic and provincial health office with Master’s Degree for the realization of the

study.

Statistical Treatment
 54

The data gathered on the profile of the respondents will be analyzed and

interpreted by the experts using the frequency distribution and the mean.

Formula:

xi
Mean: Ʃ
N

Frequency: F

f
Percentage %: %= x 100
N
 55

CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Below are the tabular presentation of the data gathered and their

corresponding analysis and interpretation.

This study aimed to determine the Level of Awareness on HIV/AIDS

amongst adolescents in Sapu Padidu,Malapatan, Sarangani Province.

1. What is the profile of the child in terms of:

This part of the results shows the variety of respondents in terms of Age,

Civil Status, Educational Background, Religion and Ethnicity which are deemed

imperative in determining the Profiles of each Respondent.

Table 1.1

Age

F %
Age
17-19 7 23.3
14-16 18 60.0
11-13 5 16.7
Total: 30 100.0
 56

As shown in the table, a frequency of 18 or 60% of the total respondents

were 14-16 years old, 7 or 23.3% were 17-19 years old, 5 or 16.7% were 11-13

years old.

Thus, the result indicates that most of the respondents involved in this

study were 14-16 years old.

Table 1.2

Sex

Sex F %
Male 17 56.6
Female 13 43.3
Total 30 100

As data presented, a frequency of 17 or 56.6% of the total respondents

were Males while a frequency of 13 or 43.3% were Females.

Thus, the result indicates that most of the respondents involved in this

study were Males.

Table 1.3

Civil Status

Civil Status F %
Single 30 100
Married 0 0
Separated 0 0
Widow/Widower 0 0
 57

Total 30 100

As indicated in the table above, a frequency of 30 or 100% of the total

respondents were Single. Thus, the result indicates that all of the respondents

involved in this study were Single.

Table 1.4

Educational Attainment

Educational Attainment F %
Grade 7 0 0
Grade 8 5 16.67
Grade 9 5 16.67
Grade 10 5 16.67
Grade 11 5 16.67
Grade 12 5 16.67
OSY 5 16.67
Total 30 100.00

Based on the data presented, a frequency of 5 or 16.67% respondents

were from Grade 8, 5 or 16.67% respondents were from Grade 9, 5 or 16.67%

respondents were from Grade 10, 5 or 16.67% respondents were from Grade 11

5 or 16.67% respondents were from Grade 12 and 5 or 16.67% respondents

were from OSY. Thus, respondents were even and equally distributed per grade

and sector.
 58

Table 1.5

Religion

Religion F %
Roman Catholic 21 70.00
Islam 9 30.00
Born Again Christian 0 0.00
Grade 10 0 0.00
Others 0 0.00
Total 30 100.00

As shown in the table, a frequency of 21 or 70% of the respondents were

Roman Catholic and a frequency of 9 or 30% were Islam. Thus, results indicated

that there were only two religions comprising the respondents and majority of

them were Roman Catholic.

Table 1.6

Ethnicity

Ethnicity F %
Cebuano 21 70.00
B’laan 0 0.00
T’boli 0 0.00
Muslim 9 30.00
Others 0 0.00
Total 30 100.00

Based on the data presented, a frequency of 21 or 70% of the

respondents were Cebuanos and a frequency of 9 or 30% were Muslims. Thus,

 59

results indicated that there were only two types of ethnicity comprising the

respondents and majority of them were Cebuanos.

2. What is the level of awareness of respondents in terms of:

This part of the results shows the level of Awareness of the Respondents

in terms of Mode of Transmission, Signs and Symptoms, Detection/ Diagnostic

Tests, Prevention/ Precautionary Measures and Eeffects.

Table 2.1

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

MODE OF TRANSMISSION
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
I am aware of AIDS or of HIV
- the Human
2.0 LESS AWARE
Immunodeficiency Virus
that causes AIDS.
I am aware that someone get infected with HIV/AIDS by:
a. Sexual Intercourse 1.9 LESS AWARE
b. Blood Transfusion 1.9 LESS AWARE
c. Anal sex 1.9 LESS AWARE
d. Oral sex 1.9 LESS AWARE
e. Being bitten by a person 1.9
LESS AWARE
with HIV
f. skin-to-skin contact 1.9 LESS AWARE
g. hugging and shaking 1.9
LESS AWARE
hands
h. sharing food/drinks 1.9 LESS AWARE
i. saliva, tears, or sweat 1.9 LESS AWARE
j. sharing a toilet, towels, 1.9
or bedding LESS AWARE

k. mosquito bites or other 1.9

LESS AWARE
insects
l. Others, specify:
 60

I am aware that HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that

include:
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. Blood 1.9 LESS AWARE
b. Semen 1.9 LESS AWARE
c. Vaginal and rectal fluids 1.9 LESS AWARE
d. Breast milk 2 LESS AWARE
e. Saliva 2.2 LESS AWARE
f. None of the above
I am aware that when you have untreated HIV/AIDS, you:
a. will die early 2.1 LESS AWARE
b. will infect others 2.1 LESS AWARE
c. will develop severe illnesses 2.1 LESS AWARE
d. will have skin rashes 2.1 LESS AWARE
e. will still look healthy 2.2 LESS AWARE
f. will live long 2 LESS AWARE
g. Others, specify:

Table 2.1 shows the level of awareness of the respondents in terms of the

Mode of Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Results revealed that respondents are LESS

AWARE on HIV/AIDS. They just heard about it but did not have deeper

understanding about this epidemic disease.

Respondents were even LESS AWARE on how someone is being get

infected with the virus, how it is being transmitted through body fluids and how it

will affect the body if untreated. As per results, they were even LESS AWARE

that it cannot be transmitted through Saliva.

Table 2.2
 61

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

I am aware that the early Signs and Symptoms of HIV are:
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. fever 1.9 LESS AWARE
b. chills 1.9 LESS AWARE
c. swollen lymph nodes 1.9 LESS AWARE
d. general aches and pains 1.9 LESS AWARE
e. skin rash 1.9 LESS AWARE
f. sore throat 1.9 LESS AWARE
g. headache 1.9 LESS AWARE
h. nausea 1.9 LESS AWARE
i. upset stomach 1.9 LESS AWARE
j. body pains 1.9 LESS AWARE
k. toothache 2.0 LESS AWARE
l. UTI 2.0 LESS AWARE

Table 2.2 shows the level of awareness of the respondents in terms of the

Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Results revealed that respondents are LESS

AWARE of the various signs and symptoms that someone could have if infected

with the virus. In fact, results indicated that Respondents were LESS AWARE

that sore throat, headache, toothache, UTI were not the signs and symptoms of

HIV.
 62

Table 2.3

DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS TEST

DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS TEST

I am aware that you are infected with HIV/AIDS when you:
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. Undergo blood testing for
1.9 LESS AWARE
HIV/AIDS
b. Sputum examination 1.9 LESS AWARE
c. X-ray 2.0 LESS AWARE
d. All of the above
e. Others, specify:

Table 2.3 presents the level of awareness of the respondents in terms of

the Detection and Diagnostic Test. Results revealed that respondents are LESS

AWARE on how they would know if they are infected or not with the virus. They

even believed that they can detect or diagnose HIv through sputum examination

and x-ray.

Table 2.4

PREVENTION/ PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

PREVENTION/ PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

I am aware that we can prevent ourselves from getting HIV/AIDS
by:
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. Abstain from sex 2.0 LESS AWARE
b. Stay faithful 2.0 LESS AWARE
c. Limit sexual partners 2.0 LESS AWARE
d. Avoid sex with commercial 2.0
LESS AWARE
sex workers
 63

e. Avoid sex with persons 2.0

LESS AWARE
with many partners
f. Avoid sex with 2.0
LESS AWARE
homosexuals
g. Avoid sex with persons 2.0
who inject illegal drugs LESS AWARE
intravenously
h. Avoid transfusions with 2.0
blood that has not been tested LESS AWARE
for HIV
i. Avoid sterilized needles 2.0
LESS AWARE
and injections
j. Avoid kissing 1.9 LESS AWARE
k. Avoid mosquito bites 1.9 LESS AWARE
l. Seek protection from 1.9
LESS AWARE
traditional healer
m. Avoid sharing razors, 2.0
LESS AWARE
blades or any sharp objects
n. Require partner to take 2.0
LESS AWARE
HIV test
o. Pray before sex 1.9 LESS AWARE
p. Take a bath before and 1.9
LESS AWARE
after sex
q. Take medicines before sex 2.0 LESS AWARE
r. Others, specify:

Table 2.4 presents the level of awareness of the respondents in terms of

the Prevention or Precautionary measures towards HIV/AIDS. Results revealed

that respondents are LESS AWARE on how they could protect themselves from

the transmission and spreading of the virus. As a matter of fact, majority of them

even answered some indicators which were clearly not applicable to the question

given on how to prevent the virus from spreading and believed that in order to

prevent HIV one should avoid kissing and mosquito bites, seek protection from

traditional healer, pray before sex and take a bath before and after sex.
 64

Table 2.5

EFFECTS

EFFECTS
I am aware that someone can die from AIDS.
INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. Yes 30
b. No 0
I am aware that there is a cure for AIDS.
a. Yes 12
b. No 18
I am aware that a person is infected with HIV look healthy.
a. Yes 6
b. No 24
I am aware of the ways that a mother can transmit HIV/AIDS to her
baby.
a. During pregnancy 1.9 LESS AWARE
b. Through breast milk 1.9 LESS AWARE
c. Others, specify:

Table 2.4 presents the level of awareness of the respondents in terms of

the Effects of HIV/AIDS. Results revealed that all respondents are AWARE that

someone could die from AIDS just like any disease that is untreated.

Out of 30, there were 12 who answered that there is a cure for AIDS while

18 answered that there has been no cure for it.

Of all respondents, 6 answered that someone infected with HIV still look

healthy while 24 believed that an HIV infected person will not look healthy.

Lastly, respondents were LESS AWARE that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted

by a mother to her baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

 65

3. How do the Respondents become aware of HIV/AIDS?

Table 3.1

I am aware of HIV/AIDS through various sources:

INDICATOR MEAN DESCRIPTION
a. Radio 1.8 LESS AWARE
b. Television 2.0 LESS AWARE
c. Newspaper 1.8 LESS AWARE
d. Family 2.0 LESS AWARE
e. Others, please specify:

Table 3.1 shows how the respondents become LESS AWARE of

HIV/AIDS. Results revealed that majority the respondents have known about

HIV/AIDS from the television and others have it known from their family

members.

Republic of the Philippines

 66

Region XII
Province of Sarangani
Municipality of Malapatan
Barangay Sapu Padidu

ACTIVITY DESIGN

I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

A. Activity Title HIV/AIDS Symposium for Adolescent Youth of

Barangay Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani
Province

B. Proponent Donny Boy P. Villajuan, RM

Aileen Q. Torcuator, RM
Ernanie P. Dorondos, RM

C. Beneficiaries 1000 Youth Participants (all Junior and Senior

high School Students including Adolescent
OSY)

D. Duration January 28, 2019

E. Activity Cost PhP 4,000.00

F. Source of Fund Researchers and Aid from the Barangay and

Municipal Local Governments and other partner
Agencies.

II. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

HIV and AIDS are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases
 67

in the world and are considered pandemic by the World Health Organization. HIV

or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus that causes AIDS or Acquired

Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.

HIV is the virus that’s passed from person to person. Over time, HIV

destroys an important kind of the cell in your immune system (called CD4 cells or

T cells) that helps protect you from infections. When you don’t have enough of

these CD4 cells, your body can’t fight off infections the way it normally can.

AIDS is the disease caused by the damage that HIV does to your immune

system. You have AIDS when you get dangerous infections or have a super low

number of CD4 cells. AIDS is the most serious stage of HIV, and it leads to death

over time.

The first case of HIV infection in the Philippines was reported in January

1984. The number of young people aged 15–24 years have been at the forefront

of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which HIV infection has been rising or considerable in

the Philippines.

In the 2013 study of the University of the Philippines Population Institute

(UPPI), young people are more at risk of HIV contraction. Pre-marital sex among

the youth rose to 32 percent from 18 percent in 1994. The study showed that in

2013, 6.2 million Filipino youth had premarital sex, and more than half of this

number—4.8 million young people—indulged in unprotected sex.

There has been a steep increase in the number of new cases of AIDS and

HIV in the Philippines year after year more specifically in localities where there
 68

were no massive HIV/AIDS awareness programs implemented. Adolescents of

developing countries have partial knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The awareness

level of some areas in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao about this

syndrome is not satisfactory.

As of the 2017 statistics from Dr. Mely Lastimoso, Coordinator of City

Health Office Social Hygiene Clinic, there have been identified number of men

and women and LGBTQ members in Malapatan, Sarangani Province who died of

AIDS while other adolescents are living with HIV.

The Proponents, being Midwives and Students of Bachelor of Science in

Midwifery at MMG College, conducted a study entitled “ Level of Awareness on

HIV/AIDS amongst Adolescents in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani

Province”. The findings of the study revealed that that majority of the Adolescent

Youth in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani Province are LESS AWARE about

the prevalence of HIV/AIDs in the community in terms of its transmission,

detection, signs and symptoms, prevention or precautionary measures and its

effects to human being.

These findings are very alarming at this day and age. Therefore, it is very

imperative that we shall educate the Adolescent youth of this incurable pandemic

disease. It is for this very reason that we design this symposium as part and

parcel of our awareness campaigns for the benefit of the students and

adolescent youth so as to help them develop proper understanding of HIV/AIDS,

its spread, and prevention. These sources of information that we provide them
 69

will eventually strengthen them in spreading knowledge and awareness about

HIV/AIDS.

III. OBJECTIVES

The objectives are as follows:

 For the Adolescents to be able to have a deeper understanding

about the HIV/AIDS in terms of its transmission, detection, signs

and symptoms, prevention or precautionary measures and its

effects to human being; and,

 For the Adolescents to be able to broaden their knowledge on

HIV/AIDs and will eventually become catalyst in spreading

knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS.

IV. EXPECTED OUTPUT

At the end of the activity, the electorate is expected to:

 Be more aware and knowledgeable about the HIV/AIDS;

 Become advocates and ambassadors of HIV/AIDS Awareness.

V. METHODOLOGY

This is a 2 hour-one-day activity for the Adolescent Youth in Barangay

Sapu Padidu. The Proponents will coordinate and arrange with the High School

Principal as to the conduct of the symposium more specifically the schedule,

 70

venue and participants to the symposium. Expected participants will be all junior

high school and senior high school students including OSY youth which will be

gathered by the Barangay Council.

The Proponents will coordinate with the Municipal Health Office as to the

identification of the Resource speakers and Facilitators. Proponents will as well

prepare the materials which will be used in the activity.

VI. BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS

PARTICULARS AMOUNT

Secretariat and Speakers and Facilitators Honorarium:

a. 1 speaker 500/hour x 3 hours = 1,500

b. 3 facilitators = Proponents for free

1,500
Training Materials

a. Certificates = 500

b. Leaflets = 1,000 1,500

Training Venue

a. School - Free
Snacks for the Speaker/Facilitator/Volunteers 500

a. 50/snack for 10 pax = 500

Contingency 500
TOTAL Php 4,000.00
VIII. SOCIO-ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION
 71

Raising public awareness among the Adolescent Youth is an urgent social

call and responsibility. Consequently, adolescents in Barangay Sapu, Padidu are

poorly educated, often do not get a proper education at school and consequently

no sexual education and information about HIV/AIDS or other sexually

transmitted diseases. When adolescents in this barangay are not fully aware and

knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, more and more of them will be vulnerable in

contracting HIV which leads to AIDS.

It is empirical to take a course of action in order to lessen; if not to

eliminate, the spreading of HIV/AIDS. Hence, this symposium.

Prepared by:

Donny Boy P. Villajuan, RM

Aileen Q. Torcuator, RM

Ernanie P. Dorondos, RM

CHAPTER V
 72

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary:

The aim of this study is to answer the following statement of the problem:

(1) What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, civil

status, educational background, Religion and ethnicity; (2) What is the level of

awareness of respondents in terms of mode of transmission, signs and

symptoms, detection/ diagnostic tests, prevention/ precautionary measures and

effects; and, (3) How do the Respondents become aware of HIV/AIDS?

Majority of the respondents were ages 14-16 years old, males, single, high

school students, Roman Catholic and Cebuanos who are LESS AWARE as far

as their Level of Awareness is concerned.

Conclusion:

The findings of the study revealed that that majority of the adolescents

youth in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan, Sarangani Province are LESS AWARE about

the prevalence of HIV/AIDs in the community in terms of its transmission,

detection, signs and symptoms, prevention or precautionary measures and its

effects to human being.

Therefore, the parents, schools, barangay authorities, churches and other

concerned should come forward to design awareness campaigns for the benefit
 73

of the students and adolescent youth so as to help them develop proper

understanding of HIV/AIDS, its spread, and prevention. The sources of

information should also be strengthened by all the agencies and organizations in

order to spread knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Recommendations:

Based on the findings of this study, the following are suggested:

To the Researcher: To submit the finding/results of this study to the school

administration, local government in order to be used as reference in the

formulation of programs and projects on HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

To the Midwifes: To come up with health education programs, projects

and activities (PPAs) for adolescents in Sapu Padidu, Malapatan which will be

presented to the Barangay and Municipal Local Chief Executives and partner

agencies for support and funding in order to fully implement HIV/AIDS awareness

campaigns.

To the Adolescents: To be responsible and take parts in any HIV/AIDS

awareness activities in the barangay.

To the Future Researchers: To use the results/ findings of this study in

their future and continuing education or HIV/AIDS related studies.

 74

To the MMG Administration: To make the results/findings of this study

readily available to all students in the school to be used as reference in their

research.

To the DOH and MHO: To prioritize various HIV/AIDS programs and

activities and appropriate sufficient funds thereof so that there will be enough

budget for the implementation of various HIV/AIDS campaigns which will

significantly increase the level of awareness of the youth on HIV/AIDS.

 75

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