title: Information needs of young Italians accessing the AIDS/STI Helpline at the Italian National Institute of Health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STI) have a relevant impact on health and sexual behavior of adolescents and young adults (range of age between 13 and 19 years). The AIDS and sexual transmitted infections (STI) Helpline of the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), and also funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, has been active since 1987 providing personalized counselling interventions on HIV/AIDS and STI.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study gathered data and questions issues from calls at AIDS/STI Helpline in the period 1987-2014, with the specific aim of assessing the level of awareness and information needs on HIV/AIDS and STI among people aged under 25 years, in relation to potential risky behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data show that young subjects who called the helpline in the period considered are about the 26% of the total users, with a decreasing trend over the years. The 28% of young users reported a "risky behavior" for STI, with a chance statistically higher in the age range 15-19 years and in the MSM (men who have sex with men)/bisexuals users, which tended to decrease in the last years. Of note, a marked increase of the amount of young users not displaying behaviors at risk for HIV or STI has been observed in the years.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Taglieri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fanales-Belasio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luzi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult