Knowledge, attitudes, and susceptibility on HIV/AIDS in university students

• Published in: European journal of public health 2020-09, Vol.30 (Supplement_5)
• Main Authors: Hernández Blanco, K, Jiménez Triana, A, Caporal Taffoya, C, Romero Montero, C, Márquez Celedonio, F G, Villegas Domínguez, J E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Attitudes; Cisgender; College students; Colleges & universities; Education; Gender; Gender aspects; Gender identity; Health education; Heterosexuality; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Polls & surveys; Prevention; Public health; Reproductive health; Sampling; Schools; Self-efficacy; Sex; Sex education; Sexual behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Socioeconomic status; Statistical analysis; STD; Student attitudes; Students; Susceptibility; University students
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.855

Abstract Background Veracruz is Mexico's second state with the highest number of HIV / AIDS cases. Identifying the factors that facilitate greater knowledge, a better attitude, self-efficacy and susceptibility could improve the way HIV/AIDS prevention and training activities are planned and executed. Research question: What are the characteristics that mark differences in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and susceptibility on HIV in university students? Methods An observational, prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted in Veracruz, Mexico between June and December 2019. University students from public and private schools in Veracruz-Boca del Río were included, excluding those who did not agree to participate, selecting participants through non-probabilistic sampling. Through the application of surveys, in which students were requested the VIH/ SIDA-65 test was applied to assess attitudes, self-efficacy and susceptibility. The surveys were conducted through Google Forms® and were answered on that same platform. The results were collected and analyzed with the SPSS Statistic® program. Results 565 students were included, 62.8% were male, 98.6% cisgender and, 88.3% as heterosexual. Being a man, marks differences in neutral attitude (32.2 ± 18.0 vs. 29.0 ± 15.8) and susceptibility (48.95 ± 20.3 vs. 43.2 ± 18.2), non-heterosexual sexual orientation in positive attitude (4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.2 ± 1.1), active sex life in neutral attitude (32.0 ± 17.4 vs. 24.1 ± 12.1) and self-efficacy (89.1 ± 19.5 vs. 83.5 ± 22.0) all with values of p  0.5 Conclusions Among the university students, being a man, being non-heterosexual and having active sex life are factors that make a difference in attitude, self-efficacy and susceptibility to HIV / AIDS. Key messages We must improve pre-university reproductive health education, since it does not make a difference in knowledge and attitudes for HIV / AIDS. We consider it convenient to propose a reproductive health module to promote HIV-focused health in university students.