AIM: The survey, supported by the National Health Institute (ISS), investigates on sources of information for HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour of the Italian general population. METHODS: The survey was carried out in four different Italian provinces with different geographical, social, and epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS: Bari, Milan, Parma, and Perugia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to interview a sample of 2000 people, aged 18-49 years, chosen using a quota-sampling, considering age, sex, and level of education. RESULTS: A total of 1985 persons filled in the questionnaire. Among them, 73.2% reported Ministry of Health as their main source of information and 76.7% TV/radio advertising as their main means of information. Sexually active subjects, experiencing occasional sexual intercourse, were 22.4%; of them 34.6% did not refer a systematic use of condom. Among sexually active people, half (45.7%) reported as irrelevant their risk of infection, 6.9% as high. Being male (OR = 6.175) and having the first sexual intercourse before 18 years (OR = 2.076) were significantly associated with sexual behaviour at risk (males having unsafe sexual intercourses with prostitutes or during partners' menstrual period; both sexes having unsafe occasional sexual intercourses or anal sex), while living in Northern Italy (OR = 0.672) was significantly protective. Subjects with sexual behaviour at risk were about 40%. CONCLUSIONS: The need for further education campaigns, and their consequent evaluations, is relevant. Monitoring sexual behaviour of general population, focusing on risk behaviour rather than risk groups, is fundamental nowadays in preventing HIV.
AIM: The survey, supported by the National Health Institute (ISS), investigates on sources of information for HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour of the Italian general population. METHODS: The survey was carried out in four different Italian provinces with different geographical, social, and epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS: Bari, Milan, Parma, and Perugia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to interview a sample of 2000 people, aged 18-49 years, chosen using a quota-sampling, considering age, sex, and level of education. RESULTS: A total of 1985 persons filled in the questionnaire. Among them, 73.2% reported Ministry of Health as their main source of information and 76.7% TV/radio advertising as their main means of information. Sexually active subjects, experiencing occasional sexual intercourse, were 22.4%; of them 34.6% did not refer a systematic use of condom. Among sexually active people, half (45.7%) reported as irrelevant their risk of infection, 6.9% as high. Being male (OR = 6.175) and having the first sexual intercourse before 18 years (OR = 2.076) were significantly associated with sexual behaviour at risk (males having unsafe sexual intercourses with prostitutes or during partners' menstrual period; both sexes having unsafe occasional sexual intercourses or anal sex), while living in Northern Italy (OR = 0.672) was significantly protective. Subjects with sexual behaviour at risk were about 40%. CONCLUSIONS: The need for further education campaigns, and their consequent evaluations, is relevant. Monitoring sexual behaviour of general population, focusing on risk behaviour rather than risk groups, is fundamental nowadays in preventing HIV.
Authors: Julia E Heck; Julien Berthiller; Salvatore Vaccarella; Deborah M Winn; Elaine M Smith; Oxana Shan'gina; Stephen M Schwartz; Mark P Purdue; Agnieszka Pilarska; Jose Eluf-Neto; Ana Menezes; Michael D McClean; Elena Matos; Sergio Koifman; Karl T Kelsey; Rolando Herrero; Richard B Hayes; Silvia Franceschi; Victor Wünsch-Filho; Leticia Fernández; Alexander W Daudt; Maria Paula Curado; Chu Chen; Xavier Castellsagué; Gilles Ferro; Paul Brennan; Paolo Boffetta; Mia Hashibe Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2009-12-18 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Alexandre Grangeiro; Maria Mercedes Escuder; Paulo Rossi Menezes; Rosa Alencar; Euclides Ayres de Castilho Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-01-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: G Visalli; B Cosenza; F Mazzù; M P Bertuccio; P Spataro; G F Pellicanò; A DI Pietro; I Picerno; A Facciolà Journal: J Prev Med Hyg Date: 2019-06-28
Authors: Iacopo Baussano; Silvia Franceschi; Anna Gillio-Tos; Francesca Carozzi; Massimo Confortini; Paolo Dalla Palma; Margherita De Lillo; Annarosa Del Mistro; Laura De Marco; Carlo Naldoni; Paola Pierotti; Patrizia Schincaglia; Nereo Segnan; Manuel Zorzi; Paolo Giorgi-Rossi; Guglielmo Ronco Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2013-05-24 Impact factor: 3.090