Khamisa Natasha, Mokgobi Maboe, Basera Tariro
Department of Public Health, School of Engineering, IT, Science and Health, IIE MSA, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Department of Psychology, School of Social Science, IIE MSA, Johannesburg, South Africa.
South Afr J HIV Med. 2020 Mar 24;21(1):991. doi: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.991. eCollection 2020.
Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS) is a global health and social problem, with South Africa having an estimated overall prevalence rate of 13.5%. Compared to young male participants, young female participants have been reported to have less knowledge about HIV and AIDS, including prevention strategies, and this is associated with risky sexual behaviours and negative attitudes towards condom use.
The study investigated gender differences in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards HIV and AIDS among 542 private higher education students in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Participants completed an online structured questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes and behaviours as well as demographics (including age, gender and relationship status).
The results indicate that overall there were no significant differences between male and female students in terms of HIV and AIDS knowledge. However, female students had significantly less knowledge with regard to unprotected anal sex as a risk factor for HIV and AIDS. In addition, young female students reported condom use at last sex less frequently than male students. Nonetheless, both genders reported a positive attitude towards condom use and towards people living with HIV and AIDS.
It is recommended that the relevant authorities at the state and the higher education level seriously consider implementing specific strategies for preventing HIV and AIDS through improved knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among young females.
人类免疫缺陷病毒与获得性免疫缺陷综合征（HIV和艾滋病）是一个全球性的健康和社会问题，据估计南非的总体患病率为13.5%。与年轻男性参与者相比，据报道年轻女性参与者对HIV和艾滋病的了解较少，包括预防策略，这与危险的性行为以及对使用避孕套的消极态度有关。
该研究调查了南非约翰内斯堡542名私立高等教育学生在HIV和艾滋病知识、态度及行为方面的性别差异。
参与者完成了一份在线结构化问卷，该问卷测量了知识、态度、行为以及人口统计学特征（包括年龄、性别和恋爱状况）。
结果表明，总体而言，男女学生在HIV和艾滋病知识方面没有显著差异。然而，女学生对无保护肛交作为HIV和艾滋病的危险因素的了解明显较少。此外，年轻女学生报告上次性行为时使用避孕套的频率低于男学生。尽管如此，男女都对使用避孕套以及对HIV感染者和艾滋病患者持积极态度。
建议国家和高等教育层面的相关当局认真考虑通过提高年轻女性的知识、态度和行为来实施预防HIV和艾滋病的具体策略。
