Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of Italian female undergraduates students towards HIV infection and risky sexual behaviours.Would female medical students make good peer educators?

Background: The main purpose of this study was to identify and describe knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards HIV infection and risky sexual behaviour in female medical freshmen in order to evaluate the possibility of female medical student-based peer education. Methods: Researchers surveyed 560 freshmen: 280 medical students and 280 non medical students at two Italian Universities, collecting the data through anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. Data were codified and statistical analysis was computed through Statistica and Openstat 4 software. Results: Female medical freshmen showed higher levels of knowledge and risk perception about HIV infection, and higher levels of self-awareness in preventing infection when compared with non medical freshmen. Moreover, medical student’s showed a lower rate of sexual activity and a higher rate of condom use among them. Conclusions: In the light of the results, female medical student-based peer education on HIV infection with the aim of preventing and reducing high-risk sexual behaviour amongst adolescents has been discussed.