AEGiS-15IAC: Assessments on the risks of contracting infectious diseases and sexual HIV transmission by health care students from Germany, Lithuania and Namibia.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Assessments on the risks of contracting infectious diseases and sexual HIV transmission by health care students from Germany, Lithuania and Namibia.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10352)

Klewer J, Sasnauskaite L, Lauschke H, Kugler J
Public Health, Dresden Medical SChool, Dresden, Germany

BACKGROUND: In Germany, Lithuania and Namibia different types of the HIV epidemic are present. Due to their age and the contact to various young people, especially students are at risk to acquire HIV in sexual intercourses. Therefore the study analyzed HIV testing in health care students, their ratings of the risk of sexually acquired HIV infections and factors influencing the risk of contracting infectious diseases.

METHODS: Altogether 182 German medical and dental students, 176 Lithuanian medical students and 135 Namibian student nurses participated by completing anonymous questionnaires.

RESULTS: The Namibian student nurses rated sexual HIV transmission risks higher than the Lithuanian and German medical students did. In general, the Lithuanian medical students rated risks of HIV transmission lowest, compared to the students in the both other samples. Risk behavior and environmental factors were most pronounced by the three student samples to have an influence on the risk of contracting infectious diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: It became obvious, that the national prevalence of HIV influences ratings of sexual HIV transmission risks by health care students, while ratings of factors influencing the risk of contracting infectious diseases are similar.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Students, HIV Infections, Communicable Diseases, Risk-Taking, Delivery of Health Care, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Students, Medical, Students, Dental, Questionnaires, Coitus, Germany, Lithuania, Namibia, transmission, methods

040711
C10352

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.