title: Gender differences in university students' HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behaviours in Malawi: a pilot study.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year university students in Malawi to determine distributions of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, and sexual behaviours. A total of 314 (199 male and 115 female) students were eligible to participate, and of these 221 (70.4%) participated in the survey. Generally, levels of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge were similar between sexes. Overall, 68.9% of students of both sexes felt that they knew enough about HIV/AIDS. Altogether, 83.3% of students reported that they knew where to access HIV testing on campus, but only 19.0% reported that they knew their HIV status. Some 60.3% of students who had never been tested intended to have an HIV test. A history of having ever been tested was not associated with sex. Most (68.4%) students felt that they were not at risk of acquiring HIV infection. Overall, 66.8% of students knew where to get a condom on campus, and 38.7% stated that they knew exactly how to use it. About half (52.6%) of the students used a condom at last vaginal sexual intercourse. Having multiple sex partners in the last 12 months was reported by 40.4% of students.
authors.affiliation: Chancellor College, University of Malawi.
authors.forename: Pierson R T
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ntata
authors.forename: Adamson S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Muula
authors.forename: Seter
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siziya
authors.forename: Edrinnie E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kayambazinthu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities