Open AccessSexual behavior and sexually transmitted diseases among Swedish university students
Author(s) -
Tydén Tanja,
Björkelund Cecilia,
Olsson SvenEric
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349109006213
Subject(s) - medicine , condom , sexual behavior , judgement , sexually transmitted disease , perception , family medicine , demography , clinical psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychology , syphilis , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law
Students at Uppsala University. Sweden, were interviewed about their sexual behavior, their knowledge of and attitudes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and related issues. The purpose of the study was to ascertain trends in behavior and attitudes as an indication of the likely risk of the spread of STDs, in particular AIDS, among students. Results revealed that change of partner was commonplace. A significant number of students had suffered from an STD. Students' claims that their own sexual practices, and those of others, had changed as a result of the AIDS epidemic, proved to be unsubstantiated in their behavior. Although contraceptive use was high, condom use with change of partner was infrequent. Alcohol played a significant role in impairing judgement. Despite a reasonably sound knowledge of STDs, the students exhibited a high degree of risk‐taking behavior. The study has highlighted the dichotomy between knowledge and practice in student sexual behavior. Notable was the lack of perception among university students of their own risk of contracting STDs.