Sexual behaviour change associated with a college HIV course

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a multidisciplinary, multi-media college course, The HIV Pandemic and AIDS , on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of students. A quasiexperimental design was implemented using pre- and post-questionnaires administered to students enrolled in the course and to two control groups ( N= 131) similar in age, gender, degree programme and class. At pre-testing, over 80% of students involved in relationships of four months or more reported having genital intercourse without a condom occasionally or frequently in the last year. Posttest results indicated HIV course participants changed more risk-related behaviours and felt less vulnerable to contracting HIV than the control group. Significant differences reported by courseenrolled students in comparison to the control group included discussing safe sex with a potential partner at a higher rate, becoming more selective about partners, and learning more about HIV . The dangers of presumed monogamy are discussed in relation to the transtheoretical model of change and the development of future HIV courses.