Risk perception of human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and reproductive health education among among junior and senior high school students: A scoping review.

Abstract

This scoping review aims to identify studies that examine the existence and impact of HIV/AIDs education among high school-aged individuals in Ghana, underscoring the association of factors such as stigma and HIV/AIDs education. A robust literature review was conducted, where 23 studies were analyzed. From existing literature, it was clearly found that significant gaps in knowledge do exist, making younger populations more vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDs. Additionally, it was found that there was a reluctance for healthcare workers to teach HIV/AIDs education in schools due to parents' fears of encouraging sexual intercourse. This reduces the opportunity for students to be taught accurate sexual education in school, increasing their vulnerability. To counteract this vulnerability, there must be a greater focus on sexual education in Ghana potentially stemming from more government funding as well as nonprofit interventions. It is clear that more research is needed to understand what specific curricula are being implemented in schools and to analyze their effectiveness in Ghana.