Health students' knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and risky behaviors before participation to the health promotion program.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate knowledge of health students (HS) enrolled in a health promotion program about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the frequency of risky behaviors.

METHODS

HS answered two anonymous questionnaires, a mandatory one about knowledge of STIs and STI prevention and an optional one about behaviors.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and sixteen HS answered the first questionnaire and 183 answered the second one. Eighty-three percent of HS had a good knowledge of HIV transmission, but half of them were aware of pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxes for HIV. The role of HPV infection in genital warts and anal cancer was respectively known by 33 (15.3%) and 10 (4.6%) HS. Thirty-six HS (19.7%) reported having unprotected sex in the previous 12 months.

CONCLUSION

French HS had a poor knowledge of STIs and STI prevention, and risky behaviors. It is necessary to provide good training on STIs to HS.