Tetiana Zhytnik, Hanna Yermak, Lyudmyla Moskalyova, Svitlana Podplota, Olena Fedorova, Valentyna Liapunova

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to check the HIV awareness of the first-year university students in Melitopol, Ukraine experimentally to substantiate its importance (particularly about the way of its transmission and prevention) as a health-preserving factor. The study was conducted among the first-year university students in Melitopol, Ukraine. A total of 163 students (42 male and 121 female) participated in the survey in order to ascertain the students’ HIV awareness and develop particular methods of filling the gaps in their knowledge about HIV/AIDS, as well as promote preventive measures against HIV spread in Ukraine. A questionnaire was developed for the survey, and it consisted of two blocks: the first one contained the questions concerning the students’ HIV awareness; the second block was aimed at determining the sources of information from which the students received knowledge about HIV. The results of the survey demonstrated that the students have low HIV awareness that can lead to HIV infection. It has been found out that educational activities at universities and schools are the most effective means of HIV awareness formation and HIV infection prevention among youth (37.4%). Formation of preventive programs should be aimed at reducing the risk behaviour of young people. The existence of a correlation between the level of awareness and the probability of HIV infection has been revealed. It was found out that educational activities on HIV/AIDS should be understood as a set of timely provided knowledge about the ways of HIV infection and methods of its prevention. It was proved that the acquired knowledge influences the first-year students inner motivation to change behaviour which is a health saving factor.