Use of Preventive Methods against HIV-STIs by New Registrants Students at the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

STIs have been a challenge for the last two decades, spreading rapidly around the world and causing serious and even fatal complications. The sexuality of young people remains a public health problem that is worrying because of its consequences. Young people deserve guidance to face this challenge by providing sufficient information on how to prevent STIs / HIV and unwanted pregnancies. The study was cross-sectional in 273 new enrolled in seven faculties / Schools of UNILU from May to June 2011. In order to evaluate their level of use of preventive methods against STIs / HIV. STIs are well known in 24.1 %; modes of transmission in 37.7 % and prevention in 52.4 %. The average age at first intercourse is 17 ± 2.2 years.7.7 % of parents communicate easily with their children about sexuality. Alcoholic beverages, single-parent families; overconfidence in their partner were the factors favoring sexual activity (71.1 %), non-condom use (86.6 %), multi-sexual partnership (85.1 %) and subsequently induced a high rate of STIs at 22.3 % [17.4 % - 27.2 %]. The sexuality of young people remains a challenge of the century for which the Congolese State must consider organizing the life-skills program at all levels of intellectual training and train peer educators at the service of youth to help them to facing the challenges of sexuality that they are called to meet.