A crosssectional survey of freshmen students at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, To measure their knowledge, behavior and perception of their vulnerability to HIVIAIDS

Abstract

.Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic is spreading and what is a serious concern is that there is mounting evidence that the HIV that causes AIDS is spreading rapidly among teenagers worldwide. If this fast spread is to be halted, the knowledge, attitude and behavior of them should change. Purpose: To understand Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of minority youth Methods: A sixty one point questionnaire, grouped into three main subscales was used to collect data from the target group of sixty-two freshmen students. It was designed to gather data about the students' knowledge, opinion, behavior about HIV/ AIDS and their perception of their vulnerability to HIV infection. Results: The respondents were very knowledgeable about the sources of HIV infection, its modes of transmission, sexual preferences that lead to infection, condom use, and the physiological manifestations of the disease Conclusion: The students' lack of knowledge of the sexual behaviors of their friends, and their perception of invulnerability to the virus may be contributing to the increase in the prevalence of AIDS in the minority community.