INTRODUCTION: Sexual intercourse is currently the main route of HIV infection in Spain. Despite decreases in new infections among women and drug users, the rate remains stable in men. The aim of this study was to assess risk behaviour and HIV awareness in a sample of young adults in Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was performed on a non-HIV infected sample, using a questionnaire on sexual health and HIV awareness adapted from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. A sexual risk variable was included (high and low), which was classified as high if subjects had had three or more sexual partners and did not always use a condom in all their sexual encounters. RESULTS: 243 subjects were included (65.6% women) aged between 16 and 36years (mean=25.7; SD=4.1) (16-24years: 134 subjects; 25-29years: 60 subjects; over 30years: 47 subjects). Approximately 40.9% said that they used a condom in all sexual relations and 61% did not perceive any risk of infection. There were no significant differences in awareness of infection routes between the high and low risk profiles. Washing after sex, having few partners, spermicide use and having undetectable viral load were protective measures significantly associated with differences in sexual risk (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of the study was the underestimation of risk of infection, analysed after differences found between self-assessment and sexual risk. Both positive and negative results were found concerning HIV awareness.
INTRODUCTION: Sexual intercourse is currently the main route of HIV infection in Spain. Despite decreases in new infections among women and drug users, the rate remains stable in men. The aim of this study was to assess risk behaviour and HIV awareness in a sample of young adults in Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was performed on a non-HIV infected sample, using a questionnaire on sexual health and HIV awareness adapted from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. A sexual risk variable was included (high and low), which was classified as high if subjects had had three or more sexual partners and did not always use a condom in all their sexual encounters. RESULTS: 243 subjects were included (65.6% women) aged between 16 and 36years (mean=25.7; SD=4.1) (16-24years: 134 subjects; 25-29years: 60 subjects; over 30years: 47 subjects). Approximately 40.9% said that they used a condom in all sexual relations and 61% did not perceive any risk of infection. There were no significant differences in awareness of infection routes between the high and low risk profiles. Washing after sex, having few partners, spermicide use and having undetectable viral load were protective measures significantly associated with differences in sexual risk (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of the study was the underestimation of risk of infection, analysed after differences found between self-assessment and sexual risk. Both positive and negative results were found concerning HIV awareness.
Authors: Santiago Jiménez de Ory; José Tomas Ramos; Claudia Fortuny; María Isabel González-Tomé; Maria José Mellado; David Moreno; César Gavilán; Ana Isabel Menasalvas; Ana Isabel Piqueras; M Antoinette Frick; Maria Angeles Muñoz-Fernández; Maria Luisa Navarro Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-10-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: María Ángeles Pérez-Morente; María Gázquez-López; María Adelaida Álvarez-Serrano; Encarnación Martínez-García; Pedro Femia-Marzo; María Dolores Pozo-Cano; Adelina Martín-Salvador Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-13 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Raquel Casado Santa-Bárbara; César Hueso-Montoro; Adelina Martín-Salvador; María Adelaida Álvarez-Serrano; María Gázquez-López; María Ángeles Pérez-Morente Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-21 Impact factor: 3.390