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Published on: October 31, 2010
Chilean university students: knowledge and concern about HIV/AIDS
Lilian Ferrer1, Rosina Cianelli, Edwin Guzman
1Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC
|September 25, 2007
Summary
Chilean university students possess good knowledge of HIV/AIDS but show low concern about contracting the virus. This disconnect between knowledge and worry highlights a gap in understanding risk perception among young adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Chile faces an increasing Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, with young people being a significantly affected demographic.
- Despite the rising incidence, there is limited understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and concerns regarding HIV/AIDS among Chilean university students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among Chilean university students.
- To determine the extent of worry or concern students have about contracting HIV/AIDS.
- To investigate the correlation between HIV/AIDS knowledge and worry in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 45 university students in Chile.
- Data were collected via anonymous, self-administered questionnaires following oral consent.
- Statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationship between knowledge scores and reported worry levels.
Main Results:
- The majority of students (77%) demonstrated good knowledge, correctly answering at least 85% of HIV/AIDS-related questions.
- A significant portion of students (almost 56%) reported not being worried about contracting HIV/AIDS.
- A nonsignificant statistical correlation (p > .05) was found between HIV/AIDS knowledge and worry levels.
Conclusions:
- Chilean university students generally possess adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS but exhibit a low level of personal concern about the infection.
- The lack of correlation between knowledge and worry suggests a potential disconnect in risk perception, even among an educated population.
- Further research is essential to explore the reasons behind this low worry, especially considering the population's engagement in behaviors that may increase HIV risk.
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