Awareness and education regarding sexually transmitted diseases among undergraduate students

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the main global cause of acute illness and death and represent a high socioeconomic cost. Undergraduate students are highly exposed to STDs. The research developed at UNICAMP sought to quantify and generate self-perception of knowledge(or lack thereof) about...

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Published inCiência & saude coletiva Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 1975 - 1984
Main Authors Castro, Eneida Lazzarini de, Caldas, Tânia Alencar de, Morcillo, André Moreno, Pereira, Elisabete Monteiro de Aguiar, Velho, Paulo Eduardo Neves Ferreira
Format Journal Article
LanguagePortuguese
Published Brazil Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 01.06.2016
Subjects
Adolescent
Brazil
College students
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Perceptions
Self Report
Sexual behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control
STD
Students
Young Adult
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Summary:Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the main global cause of acute illness and death and represent a high socioeconomic cost. Undergraduate students are highly exposed to STDs. The research developed at UNICAMP sought to quantify and generate self-perception of knowledge(or lack thereof) about STDs, as well as evaluate the interest of the students in a course on the topic. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire sent electronically to students about to graduate at the end of 2011 and to freshmen in 2012. The questionnaire was answered by 1,448 seniors and 371 freshmen. Twenty percent of seniors and 38% of freshmen had no sexual activity. Among sexually active students, 26.9% had no regular partner and 28.2% more than two partners per year. The condom was used by 99% of students, but less than 20% used them appropriately. About 80% were unaware that condoms do not provide protection outside the barrier area; they intended to read more about STDs and learnt something about the subject. Nearly half of the students considered that a course should be offered to all undergraduates. These findings will be of use in defining strategies for prevention and the teaching tool could be used in other learning environments.
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ISSN:1413-8123
1678-4561
DOI:10.1590/1413-81232015216.00492015