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HIV/AIDS perception and risk behavior among high school students in the Stavropol region of Russia
Amlaev K.R.1, Kryuchkov N.A.2
1 Stavropol Preventive medicine center, Russia
2 Russian Society of Evidence-based medicine specialists, Russia
Background. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the perception and knowledge of high school students in Stavropol town of Russia with regards to HIV/AIDS.
Methods. The cluster random sample was used. Pretested structured questionnaire was filled by 18-20-year-old students of Stavropol Universities and Academies exploring their HIV/AIDS perception and awareness, sexual behaviors, drug use, attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The obtained data are represented as percentage and its standard error (SE).
Results. Out of 327 participants included, 294 students (165 males, 129 females) filled in the form completely (90% response rate). Majority of students knew about routs of transmission of HIV infection and location of facilities where HIV testing is available (87, SE 1.96 and 77.6, SE 2.43% respectively). Nevertheless a third supposed that it’s possible to get infected through insect stings and contacts with personal belongings of infected person. Only a fourth reported being ever tested for HIV. Forty three percent of students reported no change of safer sexual behaviors after receipt of HIV prevention information from brochures. Moreover they had quite various knowledge of prevention. It’s important to note that 15.3% (SE 2.1%) of respondents reported using drugs. Almost 34% (SE 2.76%) of participants knew one or more drug users. Over a third (35.7%, SE 2.79%) of students suggested that PLWHA should be isolated. Thirty percent (29.3%, SE 2.65%) of respondents noted contempt for PLWHA and 5.1% (SE 1.28%) feared HIV-infected people.
Conclusions. This study demonstrated that students of Stavropol higher education facilities are decently informed regarding to HIV/AIDS. However they have only limited knowledge and practical skills of infection prevention. Moreover low coverage by HIV screening tests, high prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors and drugs use, as well as low tolerance towards PLWHA set additional challenges. Modernization of information programs on HIV/AIDS for young people in Russian is needed.
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