title: Sexual behavior and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among university students in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the sexual behavior and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among undergraduate students in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported questionnaires were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the 447 students in the study were single (97.3%), in their first year of university (87.7%), and the mean ages were 20.4 years (males) and 19.8 years (females). Vaginal intercourse was practiced by 69.7% of males and 48.4% of females, oral sex by 64.5% of males and 43.7% of females, and anal sex by 18.4% of males and 14.1% of females. Use of a condom during vaginal sex was practiced by 80.4% of males and 74.8% of females and during anal sex by 47.8% of males and 30.0% of females. Knowledge of transmission of STIs was greater than 90% for HIV, syphilis, genital herpes, and gonorrhea; 63%-76% for HPV and genital warts; 30%-34% for Trichomonas and only 16% for Chlamydia. Only 25%-34% knew that HIV was transmitted by breastfeeding; 56%-60% knew that HIV was transmitted by anal sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many students engage in high-risk sexual behavior with multiple partners and use condoms inconsistently. Knowledge of the acquisition and modes of sexual and vertical transmission of HIV are strikingly deficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Iara Moreno
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Linhares
authors.forename: Jose Aristodemo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggio da Fonseca
authors.forename: Maria Dulce
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wojitani
authors.forename: Paulo Cesar
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giraldo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult