Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and Attitudes towards Sexuality of Undergraduate Students at a Peruvian University

Abstract

Background: In Peru, there are some concerning difficulties in ascertaining the situation of sexually transmitted diseases, which makes it even more difficult to prevent and improve this situation. Objective: The objective of this article was to inquire what knowledge the students at a Peruvian university have about HIV/AIDS in order to determine the relationship between this knowledge and attitude towards sexuality. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a non-experimental design, involving a quantitative approach and a correlation measurement. 294 students were included in the study. The data collection technique used was the survey for each study variable with a Cronbach's alpha of .884 for the first variable and .704 for the second variable. Spearman's Rho coefficient correlation test was used to contrast the results. Results: Among the results, a significant and reverse correlation was obtained between knowledge about HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards sexuality (r = -.304, p-value = .000). Likewise, only 54.8% of the students were found to have adequate knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and 75.17% had normal attitude towards sexuality. Conclusion: It has been concluded that the more the adequate knowledge about HIV, the less students present risk-taking attitudes towards sexuality, and given the evidence of risky sexual behaviour in all age groups, as well as a significant number engaging in regular risk sexual behaviour, we suggest that universities implement sex education programs permanently regardless of the academic cycle.