Communicative and behavioral aspects of the problem of HIV infection and STIs: results of a survey of students in Novosibirsk

Introduction. For a long time, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV infection were considered independently of each other. However, at present, these infections, in addition to similar mechanisms of spread and social causation, are inextricably linked with forms of sexual behavior. Young people are a socially active part of the population, which makes them a risk group for the incidence and spread of STIs and HIV infection. Consequently, analyzing the young p eople’s awareness of HIV and STIs is of particular importance.
Aim. To assess the characteristics of sexual behavior and the awareness of young people regarding STIs and HIV infection, as well as to study the attitude and degree of readiness to provide medical assistance to HIV-infected patients among students of a medical university.
Materials and Methods. We used the data of a sociological survey of young people, performed in the period 2016–2020 among students of higher (medical, pedagogical and transport universities) and secondary specialized educational institutions (College of Hairdressing Art, Faculty of secondary vocational education of the Agrarian University) in Novosibirsk.
Results. The sexual behavior of students of higher and secondary specialized (vocational) educational institutions is characterized as risky. The awareness and knowledge about STIs and HIV infection among students in Novosibirsk seems insufficient. The majority of students (69%) of the medical university experiences fear of contracting HIV while providing medical assistance to HIV-infected patients. The level of professional communicative tolerance of future doctors is assessed as high (80%).
Conclusion. There is a low awareness of sexual health among young people. The lack of knowledge of the legal aspects of providing medical care to HIV-infected patients revealed in the course of the survey among students of the medical university requires a more detailed study of these issues during the training of future doctors for professional activities.

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