Knowledge and attitudes in relation to sexual risk behavior towards Sexual Transmitted Infections and HIV among university students: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Introduction: A large proportion population of the target group (15-24) highly risk to STIs and HIV infections is founded among Universities internationally. WHO and ECDC challenge the researchers to investigate predictors of sexual risk behavior in the light of recent epidemiology
results.
Aim: The aim is to present and discuss the review of the literature on the knowledge, attitudes and their association with the high risk behavior of university students towards Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV.

Methodology: A systematic review was applied. The search strategy was based on electronic databases: Cinahl, Medline, SCOPUS & PubMed databases in December 2020 until January 2021. The identification of the 16 articles relevant to the subject was done according to the inclusion criteria the present study stated. Results: Processing the results, revealed correlations and factors
adopted in 5 topic sections major indicators of sexual risk behavior towards STIs and HIV. 1) the number of sexual partners, 2) the use of a condom, 3) the sex workers, 4) the Contextual indicators and 5) the Composite indicator of HIV and STIs knowledge. The average level of the general knowledge on STI’s and HIV was moderate to high (ranged samples 67.30% - 82% and 8.18 Likert scale) and higher score correlated with: students staying inside the university, those who did not get drugs,older students and level of participant’s education. Also, men prevalence to women, older age participants and correlational factors like (paid
sex workers, consumed alcohol 17.4% and drugs 9.4%), tended to have two or more sexual partners. The frequency in condom use (samples range 25% -63.8%). Frequent use of condom correlated with: believes protected from STI’s, students’ mother graduated from high school, decision was taken by both partners while, less frequent use correlated with: not spoiling the sexual moment, showed their commitment to their partner and homosexual students. The frequency on testing HIV and/or STI’s, (samples range 4.4 %-30.4%) and make the test more often correlated with: females, participants over the age of 21, to be married and not to have a critical attitude towards HIV positive people. Conclusion: Results are worried and emerges that the knowledge is low to moderate to some sub target groups among students university students, who they underestimated consequences of STI’s and HIV and for a number of reasons they are less likely to use protection during their sexual activities.