Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Knowledge and Perceived Prevalence of Symptoms in University Students
International STD Research & Reviews · pp. 01–11 · Published 9 Dec 2013
10.9734/ISRR/2014/6850Abstract
Background: Research addressing knowledge on sexual health, particularly of STDs risk and perceived symptoms’ prevalence, among university students around the world, and particularly in Portugal, is scarce. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of knowledge about the perceived prevalence of STD’s and their occurrence in Portuguese university students. Study Design: An internet based cross sectional and retrospective study was conducted. Methodology: A total 1018 students participated (68.57% women), with a mean age of 23.57 years (SD=5.82). The instruments used were a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the "Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire" and "Sexual Risk Behaviours Questionnaire" (male and female versions), which were disseminated on the Internet, on a page specifically created for this research, after pre-test was done and the necessary changes implemented. Results: The results indicated that students have inadequate knowledge about the STD's, the lifelong perceived prevalence of a STD was 9.9%, and the actual perceived prevalence of symptoms associated with a STD was 16.8%. Finally, a linear regression was performed, highlighting a significant effect between the degree of knowledge about STD’s and the occurrence of a STD or symptoms, which indicates that the symptoms depend on the knowledge. Conclusion: These results reinforce the need for investment in prevention programs, in order to increase the information and reduce infection by STDs in college students.
References (24)
- 1 Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire [DOI]
- 2 Results From the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey [DOI]
- 3 Social Determinants and Sexually Transmitted Disease Disparities [DOI]
- 4 Early initiation of sexual activity: a risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and unwanted pregnancy among university students in China [DOI]
- 5 Personality, Sexuality, and Substance Use as Predictors of Sexual Risk Taking in College Students [DOI]
- 6 Alcohol Use and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Collegiate Women: A Review of Research on Alcohol Myopia Theory [DOI]
- 7 Health care seeking behaviors related to sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents. [DOI]
- 8 Health Belief Factors and Dispositional Optimism as Predictors of STD and HIV Preventive Behavior [DOI]
- 9 Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors Between College Students with Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Experience: Results from a National Survey [DOI]
- 10 Awareness and Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Secondary School Students in Two German Cities [DOI]
- 11 Sociocultural Contexts and Communication about Sex in China: Informing HIV/STD Prevention Programs [DOI]
- 12 The association between young people's knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and their behaviour: A mixed methods study [DOI]
- 13 Health care seeking behaviour of patients with sexually transmitted diseases: determinants of delay behaviour [DOI]
- 14 US College Students' Reports of Receiving Health Information on College Campuses [DOI]
- 15 Exploring Gender Differences in the Relationship between HIV/STD Testing and Condom Use among Undergraduate College Students [DOI]
- 16 Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour Towards Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Turkish Cypriot Adolescents [DOI]
- 17 High-risk sexual behaviours and genital chlamydial infections in high school students in Southern Taiwan [DOI]
- 18 The context of sexual risk behavior. [DOI]
- 19 University Studentsʼ Intention to Seek Medical Care Promptly if Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases were Suspected [DOI]
- 20 Personality Traits as Predictors of Intentions to Seek Online Information about STDs and HIV/AIDS among Junior and Senior College Students in Taiwan [DOI]
- 21 Sexual Risk Behaviors Among First Year College Students, 2000-2002 [DOI]
- 22 A Comparison of the Sexual Risk Behaviors of Asian American and Pacifc Islander College Students and Their Peers [DOI]
- 23 A Study of Condom Using Behavior and Its Related Factors among College Students in Taiwan.
- 24 Risk communication: identifying the importance of social context1 [DOI]
Cited by 26
Israel G. Msengi, Clementine Msengi, Scholastique Nikuze · Open Journal of Preventive Medicine · 2018
Iga Stokłosa, Maciej Stokłosa, Mateusz Porwolik · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2021
Ana Beatriz Henrique Parenti, Mariana Alice de Oliveira Ignácio, Thayná Santos Buesso · Ciência & Saúde Coletiva · 2023
Noluthando Mpobole, Raikane Seretlo, Mathildah Mokgatle · African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine · 2025
Adigun Folasayo, Afolayan Oluwasegun, Suhailah Samsudin · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2017
Seçil Seymenler Gülsoy, Ender Siyez, Erol Esen · JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft · 2023
Lisiane Ortiz Teixeira, Vera Lúcia Marques Figueiredo, Raúl Andrés Mendoza-Sassi · Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria · 2015
Alice Cepeda, Jessica Frankeberger, Jennifer L. Bailey · AIDS Care · 2016
Seçil Seymenler Gülsoy, Ender Siyez, Erol Esen · JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft · 2023
Lisiane Ortiz Teixeira, Vera Lucia Marques de Figueiredo, Carla Vitola Gonçalves · Ciência & Saúde Coletiva · 2019
Showing 11 of 26 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Knowledge of Birth Preparedness and Complications Readiness: An Urban- Rural Comparison of Maternal and Child Health Clinic Attendees in Anambra State, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Knowledge and Safety Practices Related to Exposure to Physical and Chemical Hazards among Welders in Sokoto, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Food Hygiene Knowledge, Practice and Safety Training Intervention among Food Handlers in Abakaliki, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness among Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Sokoto, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- A Questionnaire Study of Food – Drug Interactions to Assess Knowledge of People from Diverse Backgrounds — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
53
Page views
0
PDF downloads
4
Outbound clicks
26
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.