Young adults and AIDS: their perception awareness information sources and sexual practices.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge and awareness are important in promoting healthy sexual behaviour in the face of a continuing trend of high prevalence and disproportionate increase in new incidences of HIV infection among sexually active young adults. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the global knowledge awareness and perception on AIDS and elucidate sexual practices among students in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. METHODS: Students in a College of Education (N= 382) were surveyed using a 52-item questionnaire that solicited information on sociodemographics knowledge on AIDS perceptions about AIDS epidemic information sources sexual activity and condom use. RESULTS: Overall the students showed satisfactory knowledge and AIDS epidemics was a serious issue to 80% of them and of concern to 60% of them while 49% of those who had experience with sexual intercourse seldom use condom on a consistent basis. Among the students level of perceived seriousness about AIDS epidemics influenced condom use consistency (p<0.01) while knowledge level influenced the students appreciation of the seriousness of AIDS epidemics (p<0.05). Male students tend to appreciate the seriousness of the epidemics and also tend to report experience with sexual intercourse and condom use more frequently than their female counterparts (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study showed that the sexually active cohorts of young adults may not be practicing safe sexual methods and affirms the need for an all inclusive approach to facilitate improved sexual practices and behaviour among young adults in Nigeria.