[Knowledge about herpes simplex virus type 2 and human papillomavirus, and risk perception to acquire infections among college students]. / Conocimiento sobre el virus herpes simple tipo 2 y virus del papiloma humano, y percepción de riesgo a adquirir las infecciones entre estudiantes universitarios.

INTRODUCTION: herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most frequent sexually transmitted infections (STI) among college students 18-24 years old. Educational interventions for STI prevention can help to decrease viral STI prevalence among students. OBJECTIVE: to know the change in knowledge, perception of risk and sexual behavior among 182 students of the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos. MATERIAL AND METHOD: a community intervention trial (before-after) was carried out, using brochures for prevention of HSV-2 and HPV, including information about these STI, with emphasis on the risk factors identified in students of the same university. RESULTS: we found a change in the perception of STI risk during the intervention (56.5 before vs. 67.7% after intervention), possibly the brochures assisted students to learn more about their own risk behaviors. Likewise, there was an increase in knowledge in both HPV and HSV-2. CONCLUSIONS: it is necessary to increase the sample size in future interventions to assess further the change in knowledge, sexual behaviors and the prevalence of infections.