Abstract
In general, U.S. college students have low perceived susceptibility of acquiring HIV infection while 15–25 percent of youth have had negative perceptions towards HIV positive individuals. Factors associated with HIV stigma among college students were examined in a convenience sample of 200 students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to summarize the data. Only four percent of participants responded correctly to HIV transmission knowledge items. HIV transmission knowledge scores were significantly higher for participants who were single with partner and those who resided outside university residential dorms (p < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between composite HIV knowledge scores and stigma scores r = −0.18 (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, a marginal significant negative linear relationship emerged (β = −0.09, p = 0.06) between HIV knowledge and stigma. HIV prevention education among college students needs to be addressed with nuance to minimize HIV knowledge gaps, stigma and student risk perception that impacts HIV prevention and stigma against those living with HIV.
Highlights
According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, approximately 36.9 million people globally were living with HIV while another 1.2 million died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2014 [1]
HIV transmission knowledge scores were significantly higher for participants who were single with partner and those who resided outside university residential dorms (p < 0.05)
HIV prevention education among college students needs to be addressed with nuance to minimize HIV knowledge gaps, stigma and student risk perception that impacts HIV prevention and stigma against those living with HIV
Summary
According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, approximately 36.9 million people globally were living with HIV while another 1.2 million died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2014 [1]. With regard to awareness of HIV serostatus, reports indicate that about 51 percent of youth (13–24 years old) living with HIV in the US, were not aware of their status in 2012 [6]. Those disproportionately affected include: youth identifying as gay and bisexual (72 percent of incidence rates among youth); youth identifying as African American (57 percent of incidence rates among youth) and; youth identifying as Hispanic/Latino (30 percent of new infections among youth) [7]. Gaps in college students’ knowledge regarding HIV transmission is reported in other studies [6,10,11]
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