PREVENÇÃO E INFECÇÃO POR HIV/AIDS: Percepção em uma população de universitários do noroeste paulista

Occupational and sexually transmitted infections represent a major public health problem, as annually more than 1 million people are infected, with about 40 million deaths since the first case of HIV/AIDS. The global implementation of rapid diagnoses and effective antiretroviral therapy has made possible a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. However, the world literature reveals that it is necessary to improve knowledge of HIV prevention measures among university students. The objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge of nursing students regarding the prevention of these infections. The model followed was prospective observational and transversal, following the STROEBE rules, with a questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge of the academics. We concluded that there was an heterogeneity in the responses of the academic students of nursing course regarding the risks and prevention of infection of university students to HIV and AIDS, being similar to the results found in the international studies that were discussed in this study. Despite this, there were significant correlations between the knowledge of university students and the use of condoms, tests and pre-exposure prophylaxis to HIV. Sexuality must be understood in a comprehensive way and its complexity must be recognized, valuing it as a fundamental experience of the human being.