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Paul Terry, PhD, Park Nicollet Institute, Park Nicollet Health Services, 3800 Park Nicollet Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416, 952-993-3216, terryp@parknicollet.com, Tsitsi Masvaure, MS, Shape Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, Office 8, Student Affairs Building, Harrare, Zimbabwe, and Susan A. Adlis, MS, Health Research Center, Park Nicollet Institute, 3800 Park Nicollet Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416.
Purpose: To assess the differences in HIV/AIDS risk factors between participants and non-participants in a prevention education program at a Zimbabwe University. Knowledge, attitudes and practices with a particular focus on cultural, sociological and economic variables as well as attention to more traditional measures such as abstinence, condom use or limiting sexual partners were analyzed.
Data collection: We developed an 8 page, 310 item administered to a sample of 1,000 randomly selected students of the 14,000 students at the University of Zimbabwe. The survey was developed to evaluate the success of, and inform the planning for our University based HIV prevention programs. In addition to using standardized, validated items from commonly used research instruments; we developed items assessing student knowledge of our prevention program offerings, student life conditions on campus and less traditional risk factors such as cultural variables. As a cross sectional survey, we avoid causal inferences. However, our analysis does include examination of correlated and confounding variables such as age, field of study, years at the University and gender. All statistical tests were two sided and when applicable we used linear trend tests so we will report on the contribution of variables of key interest.
Results comparing participants and non-participants: It was found that: participants less likely to have ever had sex; of those who had sexual experience, participants reported fewer sex partners; more participants had been tested and knew sero-status; more participants likely to think it necessary to know sero-status. (p < 0.05 for results)
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.