HIV/AIDS stigma among University students in Ancona (Italy) and Novi Sad (Serbia)

Autor: C Fortunato, I Radić, P Barbadoro
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: European Journal of Public Health. 31
ISSN: 1464-360X
1101-1262
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.430
Popis: Background Sigma associated with HIV/AIDS can be a considerable barrier to HIV prevention. The aim of the study was to assess factors associated with stigmatizing attitudes among university students. Methods The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study among 1305 university students in Ancona (Italy) and Novi Sad (Serbia) from October to December 2020 (67.7% females). The mean age of participants was 21.94 ± 2.45. The instrument of the study was an online questionnaire that included socio-demographic data and questions about attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Stigma was analyzed using five questions and the stigma score was calculated (a lower score indicated a higher stigma attitude). Results Among University students 89.7% would share a classroom with a student with HIV/AIDS, 2.5% of students think that students with HIV/AIDS should have separate classes and 5.8% are not sure if they should be in separate classes. Only half of the students (50.1%) said that they would share a bathroom with HIV/AIDS positive students and 80.4% said that they would buy fruits from a HIV/AIDS positive person. Every second student (55.1%) thinks that HIV-positive women should have children. The mean stigma score of the respondents in this study was 3.66 ± 1.26. Stigma score was lowest among youngest participants and among students at lower study year. The stigmatizing attitude was less present among students of medicine (4.09), comparing to other faculties (3.33) (p < 0.001). There were no statistical differences according to gender, data about who they live with, material status of the family and between Universities. Conclusions Results of this study showed that there are some negative attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS among university students. The stigmatizing attitude was more common among younger students. Key messages Stigmatizing attitude toward HIV/AIDS is still present among younger generations. Need for more health promotion activities among students from both countries.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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