Gender differences in university students' HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behaviours in Malawi: a pilot study

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.