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Relevance of students’ demographic characteristics, sources of information and personal attitudes towards HIV testing for HIV knowledge: evidence from a post-conflict setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2020

Marija Milic Open the ORCID record for Marija Milic [Opens in a new window] ,
Jelena Dotlic ,
Jasmina Stevanovic ,
Milan Parlic ,
Katarina Mitic ,
Desmond Nicholson ,
Aleksandra Arsovic  and
Tatjana Gazibara
Marija Milic
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
Jelena Dotlic
Affiliation:
Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jasmina Stevanovic
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
Milan Parlic
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
Katarina Mitic
Affiliation:
Program Coordinator of the Emergency Relief Project ‘Solidarity’, SOS Children’s Villages, Serbia
Desmond Nicholson
Affiliation:
Department of Regional Health Services Region Five, Ministry of Public Health, Georgetown, Guyana
Aleksandra Arsovic
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
Tatjana Gazibara*
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Although studies on HIV knowledge have previously been conducted in central Serbia and southern Kosovo, none has included the Serbian population residing in the northern part of the Kosovo province. The aim of this study was to assess HIV-related knowledge and to estimate factors contributing to a higher HIV-related knowledge level among Serbian university students in the Kosovo province. A cross-sectional study including 1017 first- and fourth-year students enrolled at the University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica was carried out during the academic year 2013–2014. The students completed a 31-item questionnaire comprising demographic data, HIV transmission knowledge and attitude towards HIV testing. Data were statistically analysed. Students demonstrated good knowledge of HIV (average 32.8 ± 3.3 out of a maximum 42). Only 5% of the students reported having been tested for HIV. Factors associated with being more knowledgeable about HIV were studying health-related disciplines (β = −0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.13, 0.00), using the internet as a source of information about HIV (β = −1.09; 95% CI −1.65, −0.52), having a positive attitude towards HIV testing (β = −0.43; 95% CI −0.59, −0.26), having a low self-perceived risk for HIV infection (β = 0.41; 95% CI 0.23, 0.56) and the position that one would keep the same level of contact with an HIV-positive person after learning their HIV status (β = 0.38; 95% CI 0.21, 0.55). Setting up specialized classes on this topic at high schools and universities could help to increase the awareness of HIV infection and promote HIV testing and a positive attitude towards HIV-positive persons.

Keywords

HIVKnowledgeUniversity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 1 - 19
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

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