Sexual practices and risk behaviours towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Ecuadorian university students: a cross-sectional study.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To describe the sexual practices and behaviour towards HIV infection among Ecuadorian university students.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out between February 2019 and August 2020 among university students from all over the country. Students aged 18 years and older of each participating institution were contacted by an official email account and invited to fill out a survey through Google Forms.
Results: Data from a total of 5677 sexually active participants were analysed. The majority were female (57.1%), 48.7% corresponded to the age range 18-20 years and nearly half studied in the field of health. Only 28.5% (n=1612) mentioned having ever been tested for HIV at least once. Regarding sexual behaviour, the vast majority reported having only one partner in the last 2 months. Condom use during the 'last' sexual contact was significantly lower in the never tested group (33.5% vs 43.3%, p<0.0001, respectively). Having a higher number of ever or current sexual partners (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.13) and not using a condom (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.82) were significantly related to having an HIV test performed. More than half of the participants indicated that they took the HIV test as part of their routine control, and nearly half mentioned not taking it because they felt sure they were free of HIV.
Conclusions: Behaviour towards testing for HIV in university students was related to their risky sexual practices and behaviour. Prevention campaigns focused on the general population as well as at-risk populations, including university students, are needed to curb the escalating incidence of HIV in Ecuador.
目的：了解厄瓜多尔大学生的性行为及其对HIV感染的影响。方法：这是一项横断面描述性研究，于2019年2月至2020年8月在来自全国各地的大学生中进行。每个参与院校的18岁及以上的学生通过官方电子邮件帐户联系，并通过谷歌表格填写调查问卷。结果：共分析了5677名性活跃参与者的数据。大多数是女性（57.1%），48.7%的人年龄在18-20岁之间，近一半的人在卫生领域研究。只有28.5% （n=1612）的人提到至少做过一次艾滋病毒检测。在性行为方面，绝大多数人报告在过去两个月内只有一个伴侣。在“最后一次”性接触中，从未接受过艾滋病毒检测的人群使用安全套的比例明显较低（33.5% vs 43.3%）。结论：大学生接受艾滋病毒检测的行为与其危险性行为和性行为有关。厄瓜多尔需要针对普通民众以及包括大学生在内的高危人群开展预防运动，以遏制不断上升的艾滋病毒发病率。
期刊介绍：
Sexually Transmitted Infections is the world’s longest running international journal on sexual health. It aims to keep practitioners, trainees and researchers up to date in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all STIs and HIV. The journal publishes original research, descriptive epidemiology, evidence-based reviews and comment on the clinical, public health, sociological and laboratory aspects of sexual health from around the world. We also publish educational articles, letters and other material of interest to readers, along with podcasts and other online material. STI provides a high quality editorial service from submission to publication.
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