Knowledge and Attitudes of University Students towards HIV/AIDS in Turkey: Selçuk University Example?

Aims: The aim of the present study is to examine the knowledge and attitudes of university students towards HIV/AIDS in terms of its correlation with certain variables. Method: The research was designed as a cross-sectional study. The sample of the study is composed of 943 students attending the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture under Konya Selçuk University. With the aim of identifying the knowledge and attitudes of the students towards HIV/AIDS, a 25-item HIV/AIDS survey and a personal information form is used. The data were observed to be compatible with the normal distribution and a “t-test” and a “one-way analysis of variance” with a view to determining the correlation of their level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS with a range of variables. Results: The percentage of respondents was 51.5% at the Faculty of Health Sciences and 48.5% at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. 58.9% of the participants were women (n=555) and 41.1% men (n=388). The statistical analysis performed in the same concept led to the observation that the level of knowledge of the students on HIV/AIDS varied significantly in line with age, faculty of attendance, paternal level of education, place of residence and delivery of training on HIV/AIDS, whereas the variation arising from sex, family structure and maternal level of education was identified not to be significant. Conclusion: The university years, marking the beginning of sexual activities, and university students as a target audience are combined to form quite an important group to be informed on HIV/AIDS. Specifically, school-based training programs, community-based activities and public training programs targeting the youth have an improving effect on the level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Training is considered to be of great importance in both getting to know and staying protected against this condition.