IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v14y2017i2p159-d89675.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Knowledge Level, Attitudes, Risky Behaviors and Preventive Practices on Sexually Transmitted Diseases among University Students as Future Healthcare Providers in the Central Zone of Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Adigun Temiloluwa Folasayo

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Afolayan John Oluwasegun

    (School of Architectural Design (SOAD), Linton Universiti College, Persiaran UTL, Bandar Universiti Teknologi Legenda (BUTL), Batu 12, 71700 Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia)

  • Suhailah Samsudin

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Malina Osman

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Rukman Awang Hamat

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study was done to assess the knowledge, attitudes, risky behaviors and preventive practices related to sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) among health and non-health sciences university students as future healthcare providers in Malaysia. A total of 700 health and non-health sciences university students (255 male; 445 female) aged between 17 and 30 years were surveyed by using a self-administered questionnaire. The majority (86.6%) had heard of STDs, and 50.4% knew STDs could present without symptoms. HIV remains the best known STD (83.6%) by the students, while chlamydia (26%) and trichomoniasis (21.0%) were rarely known. Gender, age group, educational level and faculty type were strongly associated with knowledge level ( p -values < 0.05). Most of them (88.8%) were aware that STD screening was important while use of condoms was protective (63.8%). The majority of them strongly felt that treatment should be sought immediately if they (85.5%) and their partners (87.4%) have symptoms. Among the sexually-active students, 66.7% and 18% had sexual intercourse with multiple partners and commercial sex workers, while 17.4% and 9.4% took alcohol and drugs before having sex, respectively. By logistic regression analysis, students aged 24–30 years old (an odds ratio (AOR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.377–0.859) and faculty type (AOR = 5.69, 95% CI = 4.019–8.057) were the significant predictors for the knowledge level. Knowledge on the non-HIV causes of STDs is still lacking, and the risky behavior practiced by the sexually-active students in this study is alarming. There is a need to revisit the existing STD education curriculum in both schools and universities so that appropriate intervention on STDs can be implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Adigun Temiloluwa Folasayo & Afolayan John Oluwasegun & Suhailah Samsudin & Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi & Malina Osman & Rukman Awang Hamat, 2017. "Assessing the Knowledge Level, Attitudes, Risky Behaviors and Preventive Practices on Sexually Transmitted Diseases among University Students as Future Healthcare Providers in the Central Zone of Mala," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:2:p:159-:d:89675
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/2/159/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/2/159/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesco Drago & Giulia Ciccarese & Francesca Zangrillo & Giulia Gasparini & Ludovica Cogorno & Silvia Riva & Sanja Javor & Emanuele Cozzani & Francesco Broccolo & Susanna Esposito & Aurora Parodi, 2016. "A Survey of Current Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexual Behaviour in Italian Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, April.
    2. Hingson, R.W. & Strunin, L. & Berlin, B.M. & Heeren, T., 1990. "Beliefs about AIDS, use of alcohol and drugs, and unprotected sex among Massachusetts adolescents," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 80(3), pages 295-299.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chrysa Voyiatzaki & Maria S. Venetikou & Effie Papageorgiou & Fragiski Anthouli-Anagnostopoulou & Panagiotis Simitzis & Dimitrios I. Chaniotis & Maria Adamopoulou, 2021. "Awareness, Knowledge and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young People in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Mathildah Mpata Mokgatle & Sphiwe Madiba & Lindiwe Cele, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of Risky Sexual Behaviors, Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections, Knowledge of Symptoms and Partner Notification Practices among Male and Female University Students in P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Antonella Zizza & Marcello Guido & Virginia Recchia & Pierfrancesco Grima & Federico Banchelli & Andrea Tinelli, 2021. "Knowledge, Information Needs and Risk Perception about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases after an Education Intervention on Italian High School and University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Mohammad A. Albanghali & Basim A. Othman, 2020. "A Cross-Sectional Study on the Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young Adults Living in Albaha, Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-10, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael Hennessy, 1994. "Adolescent Syndromes of Risk for HIV Infection," Evaluation Review, , vol. 18(3), pages 312-341, June.
    2. Ritchwood, Tiarney D. & Ford, Haley & DeCoster, Jamie & Sutton, Marnie & Lochman, John E., 2015. "Risky sexual behavior and substance use among adolescents: A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 74-88.
    3. Sonenstein, Freya L., 1997. "Using Self Reports to Measure Program Impact," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(7), pages 567-585, November.
    4. Fertig, Angela R. & Watson, Tara, 2009. "Minimum drinking age laws and infant health outcomes," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 737-747, May.
    5. Gregory Phillips & Mariah M. Kalmin & Blair Turner & Dylan Felt & Rachel Marro & Paul Salamanca & Lauren B. Beach, 2018. "Condom and Substance Use at Last Sex: Differences between MSMO and MSWO High School Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-10, May.
    6. Rashad, Inas & Kaestner, Robert, 2004. "Teenage sex, drugs and alcohol use: problems identifying the cause of risky behaviors," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 493-503, May.
    7. Kenneth W. Griffin & Lawrence M. Scheier & Bianca Acevedo & Jerry L. Grenard & Gilbert J. Botvin, 2011. "Long-Term Effects of Self-Control on Alcohol Use and Sexual Behavior among Urban Minority Young Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-23, December.
    8. Nancy Lois Ruth Anderson, 1994. "Resolutions and Risk-Taking in Juvenile Detention," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 3(4), pages 297-315, November.
    9. Alex Acworth & Nicolas de Roos & Hajime Katayama, 2012. "Substance use and adolescent sexual activity," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(9), pages 1067-1079, March.
    10. DeSimone, Jeff, 2010. "Binge Drinking And Risky Sex Among College Students," Working Papers 90483, American Association of Wine Economists.
    11. Moore, Kristin A. & Sugland, Barbara W., 1997. "Using Behavioral Theories to Design Abstinence Programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(5-6), pages 485-500.
    12. Israa Abdullah Malli & Basmah Abdullah Kabli & Lujain Ali Alhakami, 2023. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Saudi Women: Knowledge and Misconceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-11, March.
    13. Marlène Guillon & Josselin Thuilliez, 2015. "HIV and Rational risky behaviors: a systematic review of published empirical literature (1990-2013)," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 15065, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.
    14. Clark, Jean N. & Van Eck, Richard N. & King, Alfreda & Glusman, Brenda & McCain-Williams, Annie & Van Eck, Sandra & Beech, Frances, 2000. "HIV/AIDS education among incarcerated youth," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 415-433.
    15. Michael Grossman & Robert Kaestner & Sara Markowitz, 2004. "Get High and Get Stupid: The Effect of Alcohol and Marijuana Use on Teen Sexual Behavior," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 413-441, September.
    16. repec:hal:wpaper:halshs-01222571 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Rees, Daniel I. & Argys, Laura M. & Averett, Susan L., 2001. "New evidence on the relationship between substance use and adolescent sexual behavior," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 835-845, September.
    18. Lanier, Mark M. & Gates, Scott, 1996. "An empirical assessment of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) employing ordered probit analyses," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 537-547.
    19. Inna Cintina, 2015. "The effect of minimum drinking age laws on pregnancy, fertility, and alcohol consumption," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 1003-1022, December.
    20. Mohammad A. Albanghali & Basim A. Othman, 2020. "A Cross-Sectional Study on the Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young Adults Living in Albaha, Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-10, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:2:p:159-:d:89675. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.