A voluntary serosurvey and behavioral risk assessment for human immunodeficiency virus infection among college students

Article Abstract:

The AIDS epidemic has disproportionately hit adults in their 30s and 40s. Due to the latency of the HIV infection, this means that the illness is often acquired in the late teens to early thirties. Falling into this age range are some 12 million college students, among whom the prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS is not known. The knowledge, risk practices, and HIV infection rates of this group must be determined so that effective preventive and treatment programs can be developed. In the present study, anonymous HIV testing was offered to undergraduate college students attending the University of Maryland. The 3,394 students who participated in the study filled out questionnaires about knowledge and risk factors for HIV transmission. They were tested for HIV antibodies, and received HIV-related counseling and education. The average age of the subjects was 22.3 years. A total of 47.5 percent were male, 81.4 percent were white, 8.9 percent were black, and 2.6 percent were Hispanic. The results revealed that 87.1 percent of the students had experienced intercourse (anal or vaginal), and that the students had an average of four sexual partners during their lifetimes. Ten or more sexual partners were reported by 21 percent of the study participants. Potential risk behaviors were reported by 11.9 percent of the men and 5.8 percent of the women surveyed. While 12.6 percent of the students had a history of a sexually transmitted disease, 24.9 percent of those practicing risk behaviors had a history of a sexually transmitted disease. Condoms were regularly used by only 17.5 percent of men and 12.9 percent of women. Two students in this sample tested positive for HIV antibodies; both were homosexual and reported 30 and 50 sexual partners, respectively. Questionnaires that were administered after the HIV antibody testing showed an increase in the frequency of condom use and increased awareness of heterosexual HIV transmission. These findings indicate that programs to diminish risk behaviors among college students are needed and can be successfully utilized. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Surveys, HIV infection, HIV infections, College students

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Multiple blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections in sexually transmitted disease clinic and hospital emergency room patient populations

Article Abstract:

The incidence of blood-borne infections may be high among inner city patients diagnosed with a human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) or HIV infection. Among 1,054 patients between 15 and 58 years old who were tested for different blood borne and sexually transmitted infections, 568 were treated at an inner city clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and 486 were treated at an inner city hospital emergency room. Approximately one-third of the patients in both groups were diagnosed with one or more infection. A significant number of HIV-positive patients from both groups had antibodies against hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). HIV-positive patients treated at the STD clinic were more likely to be co-infected with HTLV types I and II than those treated at the emergency room. Previous infection with HBV or HCV was also common among patients from both groups with an HTLV infection.

Hospitals, Hospital emergency services, Blood-borne diseases, Bloodborne diseases

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Detection of genital human papillomavirus and associated cytological abnormalities among college women

Article Abstract:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection appears to be extremely common among college-aged women. HPV infection may be a significant risk factor for cervical cancer. Researchers tested 414 women at a university health center, and found that 35% were infected with HPV. Women with a larger number of lifetime sexual partners had a higher rate of HPV infection. In 16 months of follow-up, 9% of women with HPV infection were diagnosed with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial cervical lesion and 5% developed a high-grade cervical lesion, cellular changes that are associated with cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer, Papillomaviruses, Papillomavirus, Women college students

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