title: [Determinants of risky sex practices among consultants of a Voluntary HIV counseling and testing Centre].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thirty years after the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), knowledge and practices must be improved.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Contribute to reducing the risk of virus transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study about the determinants of risky practices was conducted among the consultants of the Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Centre (VCTC) in Monastir University Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a cross sectional descriptive study with a total of 241 consultants who used the services of the VCTC during the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2011. Data gathering was based on a self-administered questionnaire. Consultant's mean age was 27.4 ± 8 years with a male predominance. Three patients out of four were single and 65% have at least secondary-level education. Knowledge about the risk of HIV infection after an unprotected sex and drug use by injection were reported by 94.3% and 76.7% of the participants respectively. Risky sex practices were adopted by 89.3% of the subjects. At least secondary school level, knowledge of risk factors of contamination and fear of the virus transmission were identified as determinants of safe sexual practices (0,004 ≤ p ≤ 0,032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving knowledge of populations at risk for HIV is a privileged axis to lead to a reduction of infectious risk in our country.
authors.forename: Arwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Mhamdi
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouanene
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chakroun
authors.forename: Mohamed Soussi
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soltani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006741:Hospital Auxiliaries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult