Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections as a vulnerability factor associated with health protective and risk behaviors among Brazilian college students

• Grant number: 22/12757-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Débora Gusmão Melo
• Grantee: Beatriz Caroline dos Santos Pereira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of conditions that, while most are non-fatal, cause a significant morbidity burden. Although they affect people of all ages, young people are especially vulnerable. Due to vulnerability factors in their individual, social, and programmatic dimensions, young college students are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within this group. Their knowledge of STIs, their health-protective and risk behaviors, as well as their sociodemographic characteristics, are revealed as indicators of vulnerability.Aim: To investigate Brazilian college students' knowledge of sexually transmitted infections, focusing on risk behaviors and health prevention.Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study using a quantitative methodology, which will be carried out on a convenience sample (n = 400) of Brazilian college students over 18 years old. Data will be collected using online forms that include two previously validated instruments in Brazil, the Sexual Transmitted Disease-Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) and the National College Health Assessment IIc (NCHA IIc), as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire. The STD-KQ will assess STI knowledge, whereas the NCHA IIc will provide information on risk behaviors and health prevention. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in order to relate the collected variables. An exploratory factor analysis of the STD-KQ will also be performed to identify latent factors that represent the variance of the results in the studied sample. In all analyses, the significance level adopted will be 5%.Expected results: The purpose is to collaborate with instruments and methodologies that will allow for the future national development of health promotion and education programs for Brazilian youth.