scholarly journals Sexual behaviors and awareness of sexually transmitted infections among Chinese university students

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 966-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dangui Zhang ◽  
Hui Pan ◽  
Binglin Cui ◽  
Frieda Law ◽  
Jeremy Farrar ◽  
...  

Introduction: This study investigated the current state of attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge concerning sex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Chinese university students. Methodology: A cross-sectional anonymous university intranet-based survey was given to students attending the Shantou University, Guangdong, China using a 28-item questionnaire. Results: Of 3425 website visitors, 1030 university students completed the survey, of which 80% were between 20 and 25 years of age, 76% considered pre-marital sex acceptable, 21% had had sexual intercourse, and 45% of sexually active students had engaged in oral sex, anal intercourse, or sex with strangers. Students had limited knowledge and awareness about common STIs, symptoms, and complications. Three percent of the sexually active students reported having had STIs and another 8% were not sure whether they had or not. Most students had misconceptions about transmission and prevention of STIs. The internet was the main information resource for 76% of students. Conclusions: Despite having more open attitudes and behaviors towards sex, students’ STI knowledge and awareness of STI risks was considerably limited, raising concerns about a likely rise in STI incidence. Prior knowledge of STIs had no significant influence. Targeted educational measures such as online education and counseling via Chinese websites and social media, and the provision of safer sex and STI-related information by health experts to university students are suggested.

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Navarro-Cremades ◽  
Antonio Palazón-Bru ◽  
Dolores Marhuenda-Amorós ◽  
María Isabel Tomás-Rodríguez ◽  
Fina Antón-Ruiz ◽  
...  

Background.Several authors have examined the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), but no study has yet analyzed it solely in relation with sexual behaviour in women. We analyzed the association of sexual behaviour with STI risk in female university students of healthcare sciences.Methods.We designed a cross-sectional study assessing over three months vaginal intercourse with a man. The study involved 175 female university students, without a stable partner, studying healthcare sciences in Spain. Main outcome variable: STI risk (not always using male condoms). Secondary variables: sexual behaviour, method of orgasm, desire to increase the frequency of sexual relations, desire to have more variety in sexual relations, frequency of sexual intercourse with the partner, and age. The information was collected with an original questionnaire. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) in order to analyze the association between the STI risk and the study variables.Results.Of the 175 women, 52 were positive for STI risk (29.7%, 95% CI [22.9–36.5%]). Factors significantly associated with STI risk (p< 0.05) included: orgasm (not having orgasms →OR = 7.01, 95% CI [1.49–33.00]; several methods →OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.31–1.90]; one single method →OR = 1;p= 0.008) and desiring an increased frequency of sexual activities (OR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.13–0.59],p< 0.001).Conclusions.Women’s desire for sexual activities and their sexual function were significant predictors of their risk for STI. Information about sexual function is an intrinsic aspect of sexual behaviour and should be taken into consideration when seeking approaches to reduce risks for STI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rivka S Rich ◽  
Alex Leventhal ◽  
Rivka Sheffer ◽  
Zohar Mor

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and purchase sex (MPS) are a sub-group potentially at high risk for acquiring and transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is a hard-to-reach population resulting in a scarcity of studies covering the issue. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between purchasing sex and high-risk behaviors related to HIV/STI transmission and appraise the STI prevalence among MSM. All MSM who attended the STI clinic in Tel Aviv between 2003 and 2010 were included. Demographics, behavioral, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between MPS and non-MPS to identify high-risk sexual behaviors and STI prevalence associated with purchasing sex. Of the first visits of 2694 MSM who attended the STI clinic during the study period, 151 (5.6%) paid for sex. MPS were more commonly older and married than non-MPS. MPS were more likely to engage in behaviors associated with high risk for HIV/STI transmission, including infrequent condom use during anal sex, substance use during sex, and selling sex themselves. MPS had a higher STI prevalence than non-MPS, although this was not statistically significant ( p = 0.05). These findings highlight the need to establish culturally tailored interventions for MPS addressing the potential risks associated with purchasing sex.


Author(s):  
Luca Cegolon ◽  
Melania Bortolotto ◽  
Saverio Bellizzi ◽  
Andrea Cegolon ◽  
Luciano Bubbico ◽  
...  

Background. The peak of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among adolescents/young adults suggests a low level of prevention. In order to assess whether the level of sexual health education (SHE), received by several channels, was effective at improving sexual behaviors, we conducted a survey among freshmen from four Italian universities. Methods. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted with an anonymous self-reported paper questionnaire, administered during teaching lectures to university freshmen of the northern (Padua, Bergamo, and Milan campuses) and southern (Palermo campus) parts of the country. Knowledge of STI (a linear numerical score), knowledge of STI prevention (dichotomous variable: yes vs. no) and previous STI occurrence (polytomous variable: “no”; “don’t know”; “yes”) were the outcomes in the statistical analysis. Results. The final number of freshmen surveyed was 4552 (97.9% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 21.4 ± 2.2 years and most of them (70.3%) were females. A total of 60% of students were in a stable romantic relationship. Only 28% respondents knew the most effective methods to prevent STI (i.e., condom and sexual abstinence), with a slightly higher prevalence of correct answers among females (31.3%) than males (25.8%). Students with history of STIs were 5.1%; they reported referring mostly to their general practitioner (GP) (38.1%) rather than discussing the problem with their partner (13.1%). At multivariable analysis, a significantly higher level of STI knowledge was observed in older students (25+ years of age), biomedical students, and those from a non-nuclear family; lower levels were found among students of the University of Palermo, and those who completed a vocational secondary school education. Those who had less knowledge about the most effective tools to prevent STIs included males, students from the University of Palermo, students registered with educational sciences, economics/political sciences, those of foreign nationality, and those whose fathers had lower educational levels. The risk of contracting STI was significantly lower only in students not in a stable relationship (relative risk ratio, RRR = 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI = 0.48; 0.94), whereas such risk was significantly higher in students with higher STI knowledge (RRR = 1.15; 95%CI = 1.08; 1.22). Discussion and Conclusions. University freshmen investigated in this study had poor knowledge of STIs and their prevention. Unexpectedly, those with higher levels of knowledge had an increased risk of STIs. There were no educational interventions—with good quality and long-term follow-ups—that increased the confidence that such SHE programs could have population level effects. A new high-quality study is therefore required to assess the effectiveness of an intervention generating behavioral changes; increasing only knowledge may not be sufficient.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo ‍Zhao ◽  
Fanlei Kong ◽  
Eun Woo Nam

Abstract (1) Background: To investigate the knowledge, preventative practices and depression of Chinese university students living in Korea (‘International Group’) and Mainland China (‘Mainland Group’) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, and furtherly explore the determinants of depression among these students; (2) Methods: The study was conducted using an online questionnaire tool designed by the Yonsei Global Health Center, with preventative knowledge and practice questions on COVID-19, as well as PHQ-9 (used to diagnose depression for patients). 420 college students were finally included in the analysis (171 students in Korea and 249 students in mainland China). This data was collected from March 23 to April 12, 2020; (3) Results: Majority of these students had a good level of knowledge of COVID-19. The ‘International Group’ did better than the ‘Mainland Group’ students regarding preventative practices, but the percentage with mild depression was higher among the ‘International Group’. Highly concerned about family members, highly concerned about getting COVID-19, and having a suspicion of contact with patients increased the depression state among the subjects. Meanwhile, taking preventative behaviors more comprehensively decreased the depression state of both groups; (4) Conclusions: During the pandemic of COVID-19, the depression status of ‘International Group’ students was significantly severer than that in ‘Mainland Group’. While the depression status of these two groups’ students was correlated to highly concerning family members and getting COVID-19 and having a suspicion of contact with patients. Therefore, psychological counseling and education programs are needed in order to support and improve the mental health of ‘international group’s students.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Rutherford ◽  
Andrew Anglemyer ◽  
Danstan Bagenda ◽  
Michael Muyonga ◽  
Christina P. Lindan ◽  
...  

Abstract Adolescents and young adults are at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous reports have found that university students in Africa comprise a sexually active population, although the prevalence of HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STI) has not been measured. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of students from five large universities in Kampala, Uganda, using respondent-driven sampling. We asked students to complete behavioral questionnaires and provide biological samples to test for HIV, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, and bacterial vaginosis. We enrolled 649 students and obtained interpretable data from 640. Around 50% of the respondents were male, and the mean age was 22 years. An estimated 0.8% (95% CI 0.0–2.0) of male students had Chlamydia infection, approximately 4.3% (95% CI 2.0–7.0) had syphilis, 0.4% (95% CI 0.0–0.9) had HIV, and none had gonorrhea. An estimated 32.6% (95% CI 22.4–40.8) of women had bacterial vaginosis, 2.5% (95% CI 0.7–6.3) had Chlamydia infection, 1.7% (95% CI 0.5–3.6) had syphilis, 1.0% (95% CI 0.0–2.4) had gonorrhea, 0.9% (95% CI 0.0–4.2) had trichomoniasis, and 0.9% (95% CI 0.0–1.8) had HIV. We found no significant risk factors for HIV or other STI among males. We also found that not using a condom during the latest sexual intercourse was significantly associated with HIV infection, other STI, or bacterial vaginosis (OR 2.16; 95% 1.26–3.78) among females. We conclude that while university students are sexually active and there is substantial risk for syphilis, there is little evidence of substantially increased HIV risk among them.


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