IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i4p2069-d502650.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge, Information Needs and Risk Perception about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases after an Education Intervention on Italian High School and University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Antonella Zizza

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Marcello Guido

    (Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Virginia Recchia

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Pierfrancesco Grima

    (Infectious Diseases Operative Unit, Vito Fazzi Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Federico Banchelli

    (Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy)

  • Andrea Tinelli

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Veris delli Ponti” Hospital, Scorrano, 73020 Lecce, Italy
    Division of Experimental Endoscopic Surgery, Imaging, Technology and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Vito Fazzi Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents and young people represent a significant public health problem that generates a pressing requirement of effective evidence-based education to promote primary and secondary prevention. The objective of the study is to evaluate how knowledge, information needs, and risk perception about HIV and STDs can change after targeted education interventions for students. A total of 436 subjects aged 15–24 attending high school (134 biomedical and 96 non-biomedical fields) and university courses (104 scientific and 102 non-scientific disciplines) were enrolled to respond to a questionnaire before and after the intervention. An improvement in knowledge was found in all groups, with statistically significant knowledge score differences between the four groups in 60% of the items. More than 94% of the students consider it useful to promote information on these issues. Receiving this information generated awareness and safety in more than 85% of high-school students and 93% of University students. Students widely perceived a great risk being infected with HIV/STDs, although pregnancy was seen as a more hazardous consequence of unprotected sex. This study shows that educational interventions are effective in improving knowledge, apart from findings about key knowledge topics, information needs, and risk perception, which provide significant insights to design future targeted education programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonella Zizza & Marcello Guido & Virginia Recchia & Pierfrancesco Grima & Federico Banchelli & Andrea Tinelli, 2021. "Knowledge, Information Needs and Risk Perception about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases after an Education Intervention on Italian High School and University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2069-:d:502650
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2069/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2069/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Newbern, E.C. & Anschuetz, G.L. & Eberhart, M.G. & Salmon, M.E. & Brady, K.A. & De Los Reyes, A. & Baker, J.M. & Asbel, L.E. & Johnson, C.C. & Schwarz, D.F., 2013. "Adolescent sexually transmitted infections and risk for subsequent HIV," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(10), pages 1874-1881.
    2. Adigun Temiloluwa Folasayo & Afolayan John Oluwasegun & Suhailah Samsudin & Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi & Malina Osman & Rukman Awang Hamat, 2017. "Assessing the Knowledge Level, Attitudes, Risky Behaviors and Preventive Practices on Sexually Transmitted Diseases among University Students as Future Healthcare Providers in the Central Zone of Mala," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Carmen Koschollek & Anna Kuehne & Johanna Müllerschön & Stephen Amoah & Helene Batemona-Abeke & Taty Dela Bursi & Pierre Mayamba & Adama Thorlie & Christina Mputu Tshibadi & Virginia Wangare Greiner &, 2020. "Knowledge, information needs and behavior regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany: Results of a participatory health research survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Simon Gregson & Heather Waddell & Stephen Chandiwana, 2001. "School education and HIV control in sub-Saharan Africa: from discord to harmony?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(4), pages 467-485.
    5. Frederik Tilmann Von Rosen & Antonella Juline Von Rosen & Falk Müller-Riemenschneider & Inken Damberg & Peter Tinnemann, 2018. "STI Knowledge in Berlin Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Tiffany Zellner & Jennie Trotter & Shelia Lenoir & Kelvin Walston & L’dia Men-Na’a & Tabia Henry-Akintobi & Assia Miller, 2015. "Color It Real: A Program to Increase Condom Use and Reduce Substance Abuse and Perceived Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chrysa Voyiatzaki & Maria S. Venetikou & Effie Papageorgiou & Fragiski Anthouli-Anagnostopoulou & Panagiotis Simitzis & Dimitrios I. Chaniotis & Maria Adamopoulou, 2021. "Awareness, Knowledge and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young People in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Israa Abdullah Malli & Basmah Abdullah Kabli & Lujain Ali Alhakami, 2023. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Saudi Women: Knowledge and Misconceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Maria José de Oliveira Santos & Elisabete Maria Soares Ferreira & Manuela Conceição Ferreira, 2024. "Predictors of Condom Use among College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-14, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Walque, Damien, 2007. "How does the impact of an HIV/AIDS information campaign vary with educational attainment? Evidence from rural Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 686-714, November.
    2. Denis Cogneau & Michael Grimm, 2006. "Socioeconomic status, sexual behavior, and differential AIDS mortality: evidence from Côte d’Ivoire," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 25(4), pages 393-407, August.
    3. Wobst, Peter & Arndt, Channing, 2004. "HIV/AIDS and Labor Force Upgrading in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(11), pages 1831-1847, November.
    4. Bhandari, Aarushi & Burroway, Rebekah, 2023. "Hold the phone! A cross-national analysis of Women's education, mobile phones, and HIV infections in low- and middle-income countries, 1990–2018," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    5. Yamano, Takashi & Jayne, T S, 2005. "Working-Age Adult Mortality and Primary School Attendance in Rural Kenya," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 53(3), pages 619-653, April.
    6. So-Hyun Moon & Hyung-Ran Kim & Miok Kim, 2020. "Predictors for Sexual Intercourse Experience among Runaway Female At-Risk Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    7. Antony Chapoto & T. S. Jayne, 2008. "Impact of AIDS-Related Mortality on Farm Household Welfare in Zambia," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 56(2), pages 327-374, January.
    8. Lakhanpal, Manisha & Ram, Rati, 2008. "Educational attainment and HIV/AIDS prevalence: A cross-country study," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 14-21, February.
    9. Million Phiri & Musonda Lemba & Chrispin Chomba & Vincent Kanyamuna, 2022. "Examining differentials in HIV transmission risk behaviour and its associated factors among men in Southern African countries," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Anthony Kinghorn & MJ Kelly, 2005. "'The Impact of the Aids Epidemic' Articles by Paul Bennell: Some Comments," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 489-499.
    11. Mathildah Mpata Mokgatle & Sphiwe Madiba & Lindiwe Cele, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of Risky Sexual Behaviors, Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections, Knowledge of Symptoms and Partner Notification Practices among Male and Female University Students in P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Lucia Jerg-Bretzke & Maximilian Kempf & Marc Nicolas Jarczok & Katja Weimer & Christian Hirning & Harald Gündel & Yesim Erim & Eva Morawa & Franziska Geiser & Nina Hiebel & Kerstin Weidner & Christian, 2021. "Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers and Initial Areas of Action for Intervention and Prevention—The egePan/VOICE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, October.
    13. Isaac Kalonda-Kanyama, 2010. "Civil War, Sexual Violence and HIV Infections: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 12(2), pages 47-60.
    14. Denis Cogneau & Michael Grimm, 2002. "AIDS and Income Distribution in Africa; A Micro-simulation Study for Côte d'Ivoire," Working Papers DT/2002/15, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    15. Wang, Ruixin, 2015. "Essays on development economics and public economics," Other publications TiSEM e1779514-5b71-4726-925b-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    16. Jon Øyvind Odland, 2018. "Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-4, June.
    17. Jane Fortson, 2008. "The gradient in sub-saharan Africa: Socioeconomic status and HIV/AIDS," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 45(2), pages 303-322, May.
    18. Komivi Afawubo & Samuel Mathey, 2014. "Employment and education effects on HIV/AIDS prevalence rate and economic growth: empirical investigation in ECOWAS," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(11), pages 755-759, July.
    19. repec:ilo:ilowps:376169 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Barbara Bruns & Alain Mingat & Ramahatra Rakotomalala, 2003. "Achieving Universal Primary Education by 2015 : A Chance for Every Child," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15121, December.
    21. Juan Leon & David P. Baker & Daniel Salinas & Adrienne Henck, 2017. "Is education a risk factor or social vaccine against HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa? The effect of schooling across public health periods," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 347-372, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2069-:d:502650. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.