HIV/AIDS awareness and sexual practices among undergraduates in Enugu, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Nigeria undergraduates and to determine how the knowledge has influenced their sexual behaviour.


METHODS
A pre-tested self - administered questionnaire survey of a random sample of undergraduates of two University Campuses in Enugu, Nigeria.


RESULTS
All the 505 respondents had heard of HIV/AIDS. The respondents exhibited a high knowledge of HIV/AIDS. For the 348 (68.9% ) respondents who had ever had sexual intercourse, the mean number of sexual partners, which they had before and after they became aware of HIV/AIDS did not differ significantly 93.2+ 1.7 versus 2.9+1.5; p = 0.3). However, there was a significant tendency towards a more consistent condom use after the respondents became aware of HIV/AIDS. On univariate logistic regression, being married (OR=2.8, <0.001), previous risky sexual behaviour (OR= 2.5, <0.0001) and being more than 20 years old (OR=1.4, p < 0.02) (but not respondents' level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS etc) were significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour after the respondents became aware of HIV/AIDS. On multivariate logistic regression - previous risky sexual behaviour (OR =2.5, <0.00001) and being married (OR = 2.1, p< 0.001) remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
High knowledge of HIV/AIDS has no correlation with subsequent sexual behaviour among Nigerian undergraduates.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
H E
HE
Onah
A U
AU
Mbah
J C
JC
Chukwuka
A C C
AC
Ikeme
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires