Sexual behaviour change associated with a college HIV course

This study examined the effects of a multidisciplinary, multi-media college course, The HIV Pandemic and AIDS, on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of students. A quasi-experimental design was implemented using pre- and post-questionnaires administered to students enrolled in the course and to two control groups (N = 131) similar in age, gender, degree programme and class. At pre-testing, over 80% of students involved in relationships of four months or more reported having genital intercourse without a condom occasionally or frequently in the last year. Post-test results indicated HIV course participants changed more risk-related behaviours and felt less vulnerable to contracting HIV than the control group. Significant differences reported by course-enrolled students in comparison to the control group included discussing safe sex with a potential partner at a higher rate, becoming more selective about partners, and learning more about HIV. The dangers of presumed monogamy are discussed in relation to the transtheoretical model of change and the development of future HIV courses.