Gender differences in university students' HIV / AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behaviours in Malawi : a pilot study : brief report

A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year university students in Malawi to determine distributions of HIV / AIDS-related knowledge, and sexual behaviours. A total of 314 (199 male and 115 female) students were eligible to participate, and of these 221 (70.4%) participated in the survey. Generally, levels of HIV / AIDS-related knowledge were similar between sexes. Overall, 68.9% of students of both sexes felt that they knew enough about HIV / AIDS. Altogether, 83.3% of students reported that they knew where to access HIV testing on campus, but only 19.0% reported that they knew their HIV status. Some 60.3% of students who had never been tested intended to have an HIV test. A history of having ever been tested was not associated with sex. Most (68.4%) students felt that they were not at risk of acquiring HIV infection. Overall, 66.8% of students knew where to get a condom on campus, and 38.7% stated that they knew exactly how to use it. About half (52.6%) of the students used a condom at last vaginal sexual intercourse. Having multiple sex partners in the last 12 months was reported by 40.4% of students. Une etude transversale a ete realisee parmi les etudiants de premiere annee en universite au Malawi pour determiner la distribution des connaissances relatives au VIH / SIDA et les comportements sexuels. Au total, 314 etudiants (199 hommes et 115 femmes) ont ete selectionnes pour y participer. Un total de 221 (70.4 %) sur les 314 etudiants eligibles a participe a l'etude. Generalement, les niveaux de connaissances relatives au VIH / SIDA etaient similaires selon les sexes. Dans l'ensemble, 68.9% des etudiants des deux sexes pensaient en savoir suffisamment sur le VIH / SIDA. En tout, 83.3% des etudiants ont rapporte qu'ils savaient ou acceder a un test de depistage sur le campus et seulement 19.0% des etudiants ont rapporte connaitre leur etat serologique. Quelques 60.3% des etudiants qui n'avaient jamais ete testes ont essaye de passer un test de depistage du VIH. Le fait de n'avoir ete jamais teste n'etait pas associe aux rapports sexuels. La majorite (68.4%) des etudiants pensait ne pas courir le risque d'une infection par le VIH. Dans l'ensemble, 66.8% des etudiants savaient ou aller pour se procurer un preservatif sur le campus, et 38.7% des etudiants ont declare savoir exactement comment s'en servir. Environ la moitie (52.6%) des etudiants a utilise un preservatif au cours du dernier rapport sexuel vaginal. Le fait d'avoir eu plusieurs partenaires sexuels au cours des 12 derniers mois a ete rapporte par 40.4% des etudiants.

openalex: W2600612171 mag: 2600612171