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Original research
Sexual practices and risk behaviours towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Ecuadorian university students: a cross-sectional study
  1. Juan Roman1,2,
  2. Isabel Hernandez3,
  3. Mabel Sanchez4,5,
  4. Nilda Perez6,
  5. Silvana Andrade7,
  6. Verónica Cepeda8,
  7. Peter Chedraui9,
  8. Mercedes Flores10,
  9. Cristian Galarza11,
  10. Maribel Guerron12,
  11. Maura Munoz13,
  12. Héctor Ortega14,
  13. Esteban Ortiz-Prado15,
  14. Jhonny Perez16,
  15. Fabricio Perez17,
  16. Patricio Romero18,
  17. Álvaro Ron19,
  18. Abel Suing20,
  19. Ximena Acosta-Acuna21,
  20. Enrique Teran22
  1. 1Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
  2. 2Academia Ecuatoriana de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador
  3. 3Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima District, Lima Region, Peru
  4. 4Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador
  5. 5Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabi, Jipijapa, Manabí, Ecuador
  6. 6Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
  7. 7Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador
  8. 8Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
  9. 9Universidad de Especialidades Espiritu Santo, Samborondon, Guayas, Ecuador
  10. 10Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ibarra, Ecuador
  11. 11Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja, Ecuador
  12. 12Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
  13. 13Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Guaranda, Ecuador
  14. 14Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador
  15. 15Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
  16. 16Universidad Técnica de Machala, Machala, Ecuador
  17. 17Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas, Sangolqui, Pichincha, Ecuador
  18. 18Universidad Tecnologica Equinoccial, Quito, Ecuador
  19. 19Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ambato, Ecuador
  20. 20Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador
  21. 21Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
  22. 22Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
  1. Correspondence to Dr Enrique Teran; e_teran_uce{at}yahoo.com; eteran{at}usfq.edu.ec

Abstract

Objective To describe the sexual practices and behaviour towards HIV infection among Ecuadorian university students.

Methods This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out between February 2019 and August 2020 among university students from all over the country. Students aged 18 years and older of each participating institution were contacted by an official email account and invited to fill out a survey through Google Forms.

Results Data from a total of 5677 sexually active participants were analysed. The majority were female (57.1%), 48.7% corresponded to the age range 18–20 years and nearly half studied in the field of health. Only 28.5% (n=1612) mentioned having ever been tested for HIV at least once. Regarding sexual behaviour, the vast majority reported having only one partner in the last 2 months. Condom use during the ‘last’ sexual contact was significantly lower in the never tested group (33.5% vs 43.3%, p<0.0001, respectively). Having a higher number of ever or current sexual partners (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.13) and not using a condom (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.82) were significantly related to having an HIV test performed. More than half of the participants indicated that they took the HIV test as part of their routine control, and nearly half mentioned not taking it because they felt sure they were free of HIV.

Conclusions Behaviour towards testing for HIV in university students was related to their risky sexual practices and behaviour. Prevention campaigns focused on the general population as well as at-risk populations, including university students, are needed to curb the escalating incidence of HIV in Ecuador.

  • HIV
  • sexual partners
  • HIV testing
  • Latin America

Data availability statement

Data are available on reasonable request.

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2024-056324

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available on reasonable request.

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    Footnotes

    • Handling editor Apostolos Beloukas

    • X @isabeldeteran, @EstebanOrtizMD, @abelsuing, @e_teran_ec

    • Contributors JR, IH and ET conceptualised and designed the study, developed the instrument, contacted the institutions, analysed the data and wrote the draft of the manuscript. All other authors were responsible for data collection, reviewing the results and providing feedback on the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. ET is responsible for the overall content as the guarantor.

    • Funding This study was partially funded by a grant from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador provided to E.T (HUBI 16907).

    • Disclaimer The content of this presentation is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of any of the institutions mentioned.

    • Map disclaimer The depiction of boundaries on this map does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BMJ (or any member of its group) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, jurisdiction or area or of its authorities. This map is provided without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement statement Patients and the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of this research.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.