Marija Milic1, Tatjana Gazibara2, Jasmina Stevanovic1, Milan Parlic1, Desmond Nicholson3, Katarina Mitic4, Dragoslav Lazic5, Jelena Dotlic6,7. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia. 2. Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. 3. Department of Regional Health Services Region Five, Ministry of Public Health, Georgetown, Guyana. 4. Programme Coordinator of the Emergency Relief Project 'Solidarity', SOS Children's Villages, Belgrade, Serbia. 5. Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia. 6. Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. 7. Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate factors associated with condom use among university students. METHODS: During the 2013-2014 academic year, 1017 first and fourth year students from the University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and risky behaviours. RESULTS: Condom use during the most recent sexual encounter and with casual partners was reported by just over half of participants. Factors associated with condom use during the most recent sexual encounter were: being male (35.1%), using medical sources of information about HIV (35.7%), having a positive approach to HIV testing (40.1%) and a positive attitude towards sex workers (17.7%), as well as not having had a sexually transmitted infection in the past year (54.2%). Factors associated with more frequent condom use with casual partners were: being single (28.9%), not living in a rented apartment or own home (32.1%), frequenting night clubs at the weekend (35.3%), not using drugs/opioids (54.1%), not being sure whether to keep a contact after learning of their HIV-positive status (10.1%), and having stronger opinions (either positive or negative) on homosexual individuals (15.5% and 32.1%, respectively), sex workers (18.7% and 23.9%, respectively) and drug users (13.2% and 36.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Condom use among students in northern Kosovo was low. Strategies for HIV prevention should be focussed on promoting healthy behaviours, especially among female students and students who live alone while at university. Moreover, sexuality education should be carried out in schools and primary health care centres to provide support and enable young people to negotiate safe sex.
OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate factors associated with condom use among university students. METHODS: During the 2013-2014 academic year, 1017 first and fourth year students from the University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and risky behaviours. RESULTS: Condom use during the most recent sexual encounter and with casual partners was reported by just over half of participants. Factors associated with condom use during the most recent sexual encounter were: being male (35.1%), using medical sources of information about HIV (35.7%), having a positive approach to HIV testing (40.1%) and a positive attitude towards sex workers (17.7%), as well as not having had a sexually transmitted infection in the past year (54.2%). Factors associated with more frequent condom use with casual partners were: being single (28.9%), not living in a rented apartment or own home (32.1%), frequenting night clubs at the weekend (35.3%), not using drugs/opioids (54.1%), not being sure whether to keep a contact after learning of their HIV-positive status (10.1%), and having stronger opinions (either positive or negative) on homosexual individuals (15.5% and 32.1%, respectively), sex workers (18.7% and 23.9%, respectively) and drug users (13.2% and 36.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Condom use among students in northern Kosovo was low. Strategies for HIV prevention should be focussed on promoting healthy behaviours, especially among female students and students who live alone while at university. Moreover, sexuality education should be carried out in schools and primary health care centres to provide support and enable young people to negotiate safe sex.
Entities:
Keywords:
Condom use; HIV; Kosovo; knowledge; students
Authors: Priscilla Paola Severo; Leonardo B Furstenau; Michele Kremer Sott; Danielli Cossul; Mariluza Sott Bender; Nicola Luigi Bragazzi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-22 Impact factor: 3.390