Internet use among Ugandan adolescents: Implications for HIV intervention
2006

Internet Use among Ugandan Adolescents and HIV Intervention

Sample size: 500 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Michele L Ybarra, Julius Kiwanuka, Nneka Emenyonu, David R Bangsberg

Primary Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Hypothesis

What is the extent of Internet use among adolescents in Mbarara, Uganda, and their interest in accessing health information online?

Conclusion

The study found that many secondary school students in Mbarara are interested in using the Internet to seek information about sexual health and HIV/AIDS.

Supporting Evidence

  • 45% of respondents reported ever using the Internet.
  • 66% indicated they would search for HIV/AIDS information online if access were free.
  • 38% had already used the Internet to look for health information.

Takeaway

Many kids in Uganda want to use the Internet to learn about health, especially HIV/AIDS, and a lot of them already do.

Methodology

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 randomly selected adolescents aged 12-18 in Mbarara, Uganda.

Limitations

Findings may not be generalizable to more rural settings with fewer educational resources.

Participant Demographics

Participants were predominantly male (61%) and aged 15-16 years (46%); all were African.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pmed.0030433

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