[Risky behavior for HIV transmission in pupils and students in Douala, Cameroon]

One of the measures taken in Cameroon to respond to the infection of the human immunodeficiency virus is the organization of an annual awareness campaign called "Vacations without AIDS". During the 2011 campaign, we conducted a study involving 2509 young volunteers, with the aim to list the various residual and/or new behaviors exposing individuals to this infection, in a context characterized by a multiplication of awareness campaigns.

All persons who presented at the screening booth were included in this study. A pretext questionnaire was used to collect the data. The associations between variables were evaluated using crude Odd ratios with a confidence interval of 95%.

The sex ratio in our study was 1.2 in favor of the females and the average age was 25.52 years ±3, with a seroprevalence of 3.98%. Regarding HIV testing, respectively 55.4% of secondary school students, 36.3% of university students and 8% of primary school pupils undertook an HIV test (p = 0.000). Based on gender: 28.9% of boys versus 24.5% of girls had a history of STI (p = 0.014). 27.4% of heterosexual versus 72.2% of homosexual had a history of STI (p = 0.000), as well as 34.5% with multiple sex partners versus 24.9% with a single partner (p = 0.000). In addition to that, 23.1% of systematic condom users versus 59.5% of less rigorous users of condom had a STI.

This data is in accordance with the literature, especially regarding the socio-cultural and economic approach of these risky behaviors. The major finding is the reduction of risky behaviors according to the level of education. It is therefore recommended to improve of the knowledge of AIDS as early as the primary curriculu.