A survey of sexual behaviours and risk factors for HIV/STD infection among students at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sexual behaviours of students resident in the dormitories at the St. Augustine campus (SAC), Trinidad, for the 1997-98 academic year. DESIGN AND METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to randomly selected students in each dormitory at the SAC. RESULTS: 180 students were selected randomly from the dormitory population and 169 questionnaires were completed (response rate = 93.9 percent). The median age of respondents was 21 years; males comprised 50.3 percent; 66.9 percent of respondents were sexually active; 31 percent of sexually active students used condoms consistently but 18.6 percent never used condoms. The most frequent reasons for not using condoms were unavailable at the time (31.2 percent); monogamy (18.2 percent); use of the pill (5. percent). Inconsistent condom usage was not related to socio-economic status, marital status, marital status, level of study, or described religious behaviour. Other risk practices included sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol (35.4 percent); sexual intercourse under the influence of drugs (12.4 percent) and more than one partner in the last year (38.9 percent). Many respondents admitted to multiple risk behaviour patterns. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of students resident in the dormitories at the SAC are sexually active and indulge in high-risk behaviour. Students who engage in several sexual risk practices have not personalized their risk of contracting HIV. Behaviour modification is needed.(Au)