DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES INFLUENCING  SCIENCE TEACHERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE INCLUSION OF HIV/AIDS EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

HIV/AIDS has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the world's first health emergencies and an immediate danger to global public health. [Citation needed] According to the findings, HIV/AIDS is the second most extensively disseminated infectious illness in the world and the sixth most prevalent cause of death worldwide. (WHO, 2004) It has gained the same amount of attention in international circles over the past several years as other urgent global issues like as war, terrorism, and the damage of the environment, amongst others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), HIV/AIDS is one of the world's first health emergencies and a pressing threat to global public health. It is revealed that HIV/AIDS is the second most extensively distributed infectious illness in the globe as well as the sixth most prevalent cause of death internationally. (WHO, 2004) In international circles during the past several years, it has garnered an equal amount of attention as other urgent global issues such as war, terrorism, and the damage of the environment, amongst others. According to UNAIDS (2006), around 65 million individuals have been impacted by AIDS, and over 25 million people have passed away as a result of AIDS-related causes. If prevention and treatment are not sped up, it is anticipated that there will be 29 million new infections by the year 2020. This makes the situation even more dire. The report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2006 from the United Nations notes that numerous countries have reported progress in lowering the number of HIV infections, but the study also states that the overall infection rate is on the increase. The most severely impacted region is still considered to be sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). According to the WHO (2004), HIV/AIDS has been identified as the leading cause of death among African adults. It is asserted that around 3.1 percent of all male fatalities and 3.9 percent of all female deaths are caused by illnesses associated to AIDS accordingly. In the same spirit, a data sheet published by UNAIDS in 2006 claims that 63 percent of all HIV/AIDS infections in the world are found in Africa, south of the Sahara, with the incidence rate being highest among those aged 15 to 49 years old. During the African Development Forum, African chiefs of state proclaimed a state of emergency throughout the continent due to the spread of the AIDS epidemic. For what cause is this? (2000).

According to Mbanya, Martyn, and Paul (2008), the socioeconomic effect of the disease is significant. As a result, an increasing number of regions are being impacted, and high hospital bed occupancy is becoming increasingly prevalent. They go on to say that this causes medical workers to be overworked and adds an additional load to the health and education sectors, where it has been observed that school instructors are less productive on a number of counts and morbidity is growing as a result of opportunistic infections. Given that around 42 percent of the country's population is comprised of people under the age of 18, this, of course, presents a significant obstacle to the country's efforts to advance its social and economic conditions (Population Reference Bureau, 2009).

The incorporation of a course on health and wellness into the curriculum is not a recent development. A glance through the progression of curriculum in Nigerian education demonstrates the many different approaches that have been taken to the treatment of problems connected to health. Even as far back as the 1980s, people in Nigeria's education system, both formal and informal, made attempts to incorporate population and family life instruction into the curriculum. By 1985, the education of reproductive health had been incorporated into a variety of school subjects, including Biology, Integrated Science, Physical and Health Education, Home Economics, and Religious and Moral Education at both the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) levels. Many aspects of our social lifestyles have been negatively impacted as a result of globalization. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the results of our people's dysfunctional social lives as a whole. There has not been a great deal of success in avoiding HIV/AIDS, despite the many efforts that have been made to educate our people on sexual matters and encourage them to use condoms in order to limit their behavior. Olusola Adara,"Seminar on HIV/AIDS Curriculum Development" (2003). Teachers of Science at secondary schools believe that educating students about HIV/AIDS in the classroom can help curb the pandemic produced by the disease that will be the focus of the research.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The number of persons who have passed away as a result of complications related to HIV/AIDS has steadily increased throughout the years. Claims and counterclaims regarding the existence of HIV/AIDS treatments have been made by a variety of individuals. Studies conducted by scientists have shown that there is currently no treatment or cure available for HIV/AIDS. Teachers of science in secondary schools have come to the conclusion that teaching HIV/AIDS education in schools may be utilized as a weapon in the war against AIDS as a result of the predicament that people have been forced into as a result of the absence of a cure for the debilitating HIV/AIDS.

One school of thought held the view that in order to address the issue of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a new school topic should be created specifically for the purpose of tackling this issue. However, there is another school of thought that contends the addition of teaching about HIV/AIDS will be an attempt to overburden the already overcrowded school topics and over work the instructors. Owing to th e differences in the ideas of scholars the problem of this study is designed to demographic variables influencing science teachers perception towards the inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in secondary schools.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

The purpose of this study is to investigate demographic variables influencing science teachers perception towards the inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in secondary schools.Other specific objectives includes:

i.          To ascertain whether location influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools.

ii.        To investigate whether teaching experience influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools.

iii.      To determine whether educational qualifications  influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools.

iv.      To examine whether gender influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools.

1.4  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.          Does school location influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools?

ii.        Does teaching experience influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools?

iii.      Does educational qualifications  determine perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools?

iv.      Does gender influences perception of science teachers’ on HIV/AIDS education inclusion in secondary schools?

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be of great benefit to teachers, educators, curriculum developers, authors, parents, students and the general society. To the teachers, the findings will show their current view on HIV/AIDS education in secondary school. The study shall provide correct analysis of teaching which will help to reshape things for better. It will also provide remedial strategies in the reconstruction of school curriculum. The findings of the study will be of great importance to curriculum designers in planning for curriculum programme in schools. It will help them to know what to include in the content of the curriculum so as to help solve the problem of HIV/AIDS epidemic. To the educators, the finding of the will let them see the need to provide necessary in-service programme such as workshop, seminars etc. for teachers so as to increase their skills in teaching. To the authors, the finding of the study will help to structure their books in such a way that will simplify the content of the syllabus to the students. By the results of this study, authors will organize contents of their textbooks in such a way that students will be able to cope with themes of HIV/AIDS. The result of the study will also serve as basis for further research work in the area of using education to solve the problems of HIV/AIDS.

1. 6  SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study borders on a demographic variables influencing science teachers perception towards the inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in secondary schools. The study however delimited to selected secondary school in Uyo local government area in Akwaibom State.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size covering only  selected secondary school in Uyo local government area in Akwaibom State.  Thus findings of this study cannot be used for generalization for women  in other  States within Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work will impede maximum devotion to the research. Howbeit, despite the constraint  encountered during the  research,  all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are defined for the purpose of this study:

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Condom: Thin rubber covering wear on penis to protect sexual disease during intercourse

Defile: Proof wrong

Deplete:  To reduce something by large number

Dilemma:  Unpleasant thing or action

Epidemic: Disease attacking many people at the same time

HIV: Human Immune Deficiency Syndrome which leads to AIDS

Perception: To view or feeling about an issue

Precaution: Something done to prevent future trouble.

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