What works well in the sexual prevention of AIDS in university students?
Ballester, Rafael*,1, Gil, Mª Dolores2, Bravo, Jose Miguel1, Guirado, Mari Carmen1, Edo, Maria Teresa1, 1 Dept. Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales. Universitat Jaume I., Castellón, Castellón, Spain2 Dept. Developmental and Educational Psychology. Facultad de Psicología. Universitat de València (Estudi General)., Valencia, Valencia, Spain
ABSTRACT- Introduction: The high prevalence of sexual behaviour involving risk among university students has been described in several studies. Nonetheless, little research has been carried out as to which are the most effective preventive strategies for this population. Objective: Our objective is to analyse the differential effectiveness of various preventive strategies in relation to the sexual transmission of HIV in university students. Method: The sample used was 186 Spanish university students. 28% were men and 72% were women. The average age was 22.3 (SD=4,4). All of the subjects were given the Aids Prevention Questionnaire (APQ) by Ballester et al. (2004) before the intervention. The students were randomly assigned to one of seven experimental conditions: (1) informative talk, (2) group discussion of attitudes regarding AIDS, (3) training in skills, (4) intervention of a patient with AIDS, (5) provocation of fear, (6) use of new technologies and (7) control group. Two weeks after intervention, the students were re-evaluated. Results: Significant differences appeared after the interventions. There was an improvement in all experimental groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between the various interventions in the subsequent testing. The most precise assessments of the seriousness of AIDS corresponded to conditions 1 and 4; in these groups there was also a greater improvement in the knowledge that oral sex without the use of a condom is a risk activity. The consistent use of condoms in vaginal, anal and casual sex improved particularly in conditions 4 and 6. The improvement in the perceived skill in the use of the condom was greater in groups 3 and 4. Conditions 2 and 6 contributed to a greater degree the enhancement of solidarity towards HIV infected people. Conclusion: Some preventive strategies such as the participation of a person who is HIV positive as a health agent, appear to be highly effective. Nonetheless, it is possible to be quite specific when establishing which are the most effective strategies for modifying various aspects relevants to AIDS prevention. Study financed by Fundacion para la Investigacion y Prevencion del SIDA en Espana (Ministry of Health, Spain). (Exp. 12436/03)
Key words: University students, prevention, AIDS, effectiveness