Abstract

ALVES, Regina; PRECIOSO, José  and  BECONA, Elisardo. Risky sexual behaviors among university students: relationship with sexual knowledge and attitudes. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.1, pp.154-167.  Epub Apr 30, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230115.

Throughout the years, university students showed a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviors. The beginning of sexual activity at an early age, having multiple sexual partners, alcohol consumption before having sexual relations and the inconsistent use of the condom are some of the most common characteristics and examples of risky sexual behaviors among students belonging to Higher Education. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviors among university students attending a University in Northern Portugal. For that purpose, we have used a transversal approach, applying a previously validated questionnaire, to a proportionately stratified sample, constituted by 840 university students. The analysis through questionnaire was divided between three different parts: knowledge about sexually transmissible diseases, attitudes towards sexually transmissible infections and attitudes towards the use of condom and risky sexual behaviors. Results have shown that the majority of university students were sexually active and that risky sexual behavior with higher prevalence refers to the inconsistent or incorrect usage of the condom. The level of knowledge about sexually transmissible infections and the attitudes towards those infections and the use of condom were moderate. We did not detect any correlation between knowledge and attitudes, however, the attitudes towards the use of condom accurately predict the risky sexual behaviors engaged upon by university students. This study has shown that understanding the factors that influence risky sexual behaviors in the context of higher education contributes for the development of educational programs about sexuality.

Keywords : Risky sexual behavior; Sexually transmissible diseases; Use of condom; Perception of risk; Multiple sexual partners; Higher education.

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