OLUMIDE PAUL OMOTUYOLE

The study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of University of Benin students towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The research population comprised 43,446 undergraduate students, and a sample of 150 respondents was selected using the stratified sampling technique to ensure representation across faculties and departments. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that most students had moderate to high knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including its transmission and preventive measures such as condom use, abstinence, and
voluntary testing. Respondents generally exhibited positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS prevention, although some stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS persisted. Despite awareness, gaps were observed between knowledge and preventive practices, influenced by factors such as peer pressure, misconceptions, and alcohol use. A positive correlation between knowledge and preventive practices was established, indicating that students with higher knowledge were more likely to engage in protective behaviors. However, attitude alone did not consistently predict preventive action, highlighting the complex relationship between knowledge, perception, and behavior. The study recommends strengthening health education programs, promoting positive attitudes, reducing stigma, and improving access to preventive services such as condoms and voluntary testing. These findings provide insights for university administrators, public health practitioners, and policymakers in designing interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS transmission among students.