AIDS education: knowledge, sexual attitudes and sexual behavioral responses of selected college students

The problem studied in this investigation was whether a behaviorally focused Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Program affects the knowledge, sexual attitudes and sexual behavior of college students. Three hundred and six first- and third-year college students were included in the study from one university located in Southeastern Virginia. The sample was predominately female, African-American and between the ages of 16-22 years of age. Freshmen students were presently enrolled in the institution's HIV/AIDS education program, which was part of a required course. The class sessions consisted of a pretest prior to students completing the reading assignment and class discussion. During the regular class session, the researcher discussed the reading assignment, provided basic information about HIV/AIDS, its transmission, prevention and treatment, and at the end of the sessions administered a posttest. Junior students were administered a posttest only. No prior reading assignment or class session was provided. The data collected were analyzed in terms of significant differences, utilizing t-tests for paired and independent groups, factor analysis and an analysis of variance. The results of the study indicated that there was little effect of HIV/AIDS education programs on knowledge, sexual attitudes and sexual behavior.