Cogitare Enfermagem (Sep 2018)

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF RISKS RELATED TO SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTIONS AMONG YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

  • Vinícius Rodrigues Fernandes da Fonte,
  • Thelma Spindola,
  • Adriana Lemos,
  • Márcio Tadeu Ribeiro Francico,
  • Claudia Silvia Rocha Oliveira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5380/ce.v23i3.55903
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 3
p. e55903

Abstract

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Objective: To analyze knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections and its influence on the perception of risk among university students. Method: Cross-sectional study, conducted in a private university in Rio de Janeiro, with 768 students aged 18-29 years. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was performed with the aid of SPSS software, and Pearson’s chi-square test and e analysis of variance were applied. Results: The young university students had below-average knowledge of sexually transmitted infections. Regarding risk perception, the participants said they believed it was impossible or somewhat possible only that they were infected by STDs. Conclusion: The knowledge of university students about the transmission of sexually transmitted infections was lower than expected and could therefore reflect their low perception of the risk of infections.

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