Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude of high school students toward modern biotechnology in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
SN Social Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Modern biotechnology is widely becoming part of the human life. Thus, societies need to be able to make well-informed decisions toward modern biotechnology-related issues. Students are critical part of the society as they will be the future leaders, teachers, policy makers, and potential consumers as well. This study aimed to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of Addis Ababa high school students toward modern biotechnology and the co-relationship between the awareness and attitude and knowledge and attitude of students. A total of 363 participants, 47.9% males, and 52.1% females took part in this study. The majority (56.2%) and (32%) of the participants were between the ages of 15 and 17 years and in grade 9th, respectively. This study found that only 27% of the respondents were aware of modern biotechnology, meanwhile about 73% of them were unaware of modern biotechnology. The chi square result indicates that age, grade, parents occupation, parents education level, and parents monthly income were found to be significantly associated (p < 0. 05) with the students’ level of awareness toward modern biotechnology. Moreover, this study found that natural science students are more aware of modern biotechnology than social science students. Furthermore, only about 50% students have the knowledge of modern biotechnology. Another finding of the study points out that majority of participants’ level of attitude was negative with score of 43%. The results of this study also revealed the correlation among awareness, knowledge, and attitude by using Pearson correlation. As a result, correlation coefficients 0.267, − 0.026, and − 0.176 were found for knowledge to awareness, knowledge to attitude, and awareness to attitude, respectively. Regarding the sources of information, modern biotechnology from education (school) 30% and internet (25%) were found as major source of information. The awareness, knowledge, and attitude of Addis Ababa high school students toward modern biotechnology were found to be low. Efforts should be made by the government and other concerned bodies to increase the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of students toward modern biotechnology in order to increase the acceptability of this science by the society.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Available on request.

Abbreviations

AA:

Addis Ababa

AKA:

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude

Bio tech:

Biotechnology

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

GM:

Genetically modified

GMO:

Genetically modified organism

QDA:

Qualitative data analysis

SPSS:

Statistical package for social sciences

References

  • AbuQamar S, Alshannag Q, Sartawi A, Iratni R (2015) Educational awareness of biotechnology issues among undergraduate students at the united arab emirates university. Biochem Mol Biol Educ 43(4):283–293. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amin L (2013) Modern biotechnology In Malaysia (UM Press). The University of Malaya Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Autade RH, Jadhav RM, Gaikar PS, Jori DB, Antre SH, Reddy PG (2015) Farmers perception, knowledge and attitude towards biotech (GM) crops at Agrowon AgriExpo—a survey. Int J Agric Environ Biotechnol 8(3):753. https://doi.org/10.5958/2230-732X.2015.00083.2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahri NM, Suryawati E, Osman K (2014) Students’ biotechnology literacy: the pillars of STEM education in Malaysia. Eurasia J Math Sci Technol Edu 10(3):195–207. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1075a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casanoves M, de la Hoz A, Solé-Llussà JH, Gericke N, Valls C (2021) Student primary teachers’ knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology—are they prepared to teach biotechnological literacy? J Sci Educ Technol 31:203–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-021-09942-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • City Government of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, C. G. of A. A. E. B. (2017). Education statistics annual abstract 2009 E.C (2016/17 G.C). City Government of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, 242.

  • Chen SY, Chu YR, Lin CY, Chiang TY (2016) Students’ knowledge of, and attitudes towards biotechnology revisited, 1995–2014: changes in agriculture biotechnology but not in medical biotechnology. Biochem Mol Biol Edu Bimon Publ Int Union Biochem Mol Biol 44(5):475–491. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das S, Mitra K, Mandal M (2016) Sample size calculation: basic principles. Indian J Anaesth 60(9):652–656. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5049.190621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson V, Schibeci R (2003) Western Australian high school students’ attitudes towards biotechnology processes: case studies. J Biol Educ 38(1):7–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etikan I, Babatope O (2019) A basic approach in sampling methodology and sample size calculation. Med Life Clin 1:5

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2001) Genetically modified organisms, consumers, food safety and the environment. FAO

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca MJ, Costa P, Lencastre L, Tavares F (2012) Multidimensional analysis of high-school students’ perceptions about biotechnology. J Biol Educ 46(3):129–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebretsadik K, Kiflu A (2018) Challenges and opportunities of genetically modified crops production; future perspectives in Ethiopia, review. Open Agric J 12:240–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez-Salas Z, Campos-Góngora E, González-Martínez BE, Tijerina-Sáenz A, Escamilla-Méndez AD, Ramírez-López E (2017) Basic-education mexican teachers’ knowledge of biotechnology and attitudes about the consumption of genetically modified foods*. Biochem Mol Biol Educ 45(5):396–402. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klop T, Severiens S (2007) An exploration of attitudes towards modern biotechnology: a study among Dutch secondary school students. Int J Sci Educ 29(5):663–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klop T, Severiens SE, Knippels MCP, van Mil MH, Ten Dam GT (2010) Effects of a science education module on attitudes towards modern biotechnology of secondary school students. Int J Sci Educ 32(9):1127–1150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolarova T (2011) Modern biotechnology from the point of view of 15–19-year-old high school students. Biotechnol Biotechnol Equip 25(3):2538–2546. https://doi.org/10.5504/BBEQ.2011.0069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kooffreh ME, Ikpeme EV, Mgbado TI (2021) Knowledge, perception, and interest regarding biotechnology among secondary school students in Calabar, Cross River State. Nigeri Biochem Mol Biol Edu 49(4):664–668. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar NM, Muthukumaran C, Sharmila G, Gurunathan B (2018) Genetically modified organisms and its impact on the enhancement of bioremediation. Bioremediation: applications for environmental protection and management. Springer, pp 53–76

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Bautista JR (2019) Examining personal and media factors associated with attitude towards genetically modified foods among university students in Kunming, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(23):4613. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucht JM (2015) Public acceptance of plant biotechnology and GM crops. Viruses 7(8):4254–4281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques MD, Critchley CR, Walshe J (2015) Attitudes to genetically modified food over time: how trust in organizations and the media cycle predict support. Public Underst Sci 24(5):601–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meeran S, Ahmad Harail MF, Halim L (2012) Malaysian secondary school students’ knowledge and attitudes toward s biotechnology. J Balt Sci Educ 11:153–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra S, Singh RB, Saxena P, Tiwari AKM, Mahdi AA (2020) A review on genetically modified organisms and foods-perspective and challenges. IOSR J Biotechnol Biochem 6(4):19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordqvist O, Johansson S (2019) Secondary school biology students’ attitudes towards modern biotechnology characterised using structural equation modeling. Eurasia J Math Sci Technol Edu 16(2):2. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/115016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozel M, Erdogan M, Usak M, Prokop P (2009) High school students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding biotechnology applications. Edu Sci Theor Pr 9(1):321–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Paš M, Vogrinc J, Raspor P, Udovč Kneževič N, Čehovin Zajc J (2019) Biotechnology learning in Slovenian upper-secondary education: Gaining knowledge and forming attitudes. Res Sci Technol Educ 37(1):110–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popek S, Halagarda M (2017) Genetically modified foods: consumer awareness, opinions and attitudes in selected EU countries. Int J Consum Stud 41(3):325–332. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prokop P, Lešková A, Kubiatko M, Diran C (2007) Slovakian students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward biotechnology. Int J Sci Educ 29(7):895–907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siti Husmila H (2016) Malaysian food industry acceptance of genetically modified food. Universiti Utara Malaysia

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Kotebe Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 31248, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Lielt Hafte

  2. Department of Applied Biology, School of Applied Natural Sciences, Adama Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia

    Kero Jemal

Authors
  1. Lielt Hafte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kero Jemal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors participated in the design, interpretation of the studies, and analysis of the data and review of the manuscript; KJ designed this study and review. LH participated in the conduct of the study and wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kero Jemal.

Ethics declarations

Competing interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Informed consent

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 21 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hafte, L., Jemal, K. Awareness, knowledge, and attitude of high school students toward modern biotechnology in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. SN Soc Sci 3, 17 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00580-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00580-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation