PREVENTION OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION: AWARENESS, PERCEPTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL RISK OF CONTAMINATION, CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR

Objective. To evaluate the insight into the spread of HIV in Russia, people’s vulnerability to HIV infection, the individual perception of the risk of contamination and ways of its prevention. To conduct a brief preventive conversation based on results of a survey. Materials and Methods. The evaluation was conducted using an anonymous survey in November and December 2015. Study included 200 adolescents born in the 1999 p. (Group 1) and 79 first year students of the medical college (Group 2). The average age of the respondents of Group 2 was 16.6 years, the proportion of girls - 78.5%. Results. Only 34% of respondents in Group 1 correctly assessed the situation with the spread of HIV infection in the Russian Federation. The proportion of correct answers in Group 2 was 56.9%, which may have been due to medical education. Correct assessment of the situation with the spread of HIV infection did not promote awareness of individual risk and the perception of vulnerability to HIV infection. 32.8% of respondents excluded their risk of becoming infected with HIV, 44.3% of respondents considered risk as minimal and 22.8% - as similar to the most people. 13.3% of respondents in Group 2 gave the answer «I am at higher risk compared to other people», which may be related to perceptions of increased risk of infection when performing professional duties. But in general, respondents in this group had no enough awareness about the potential risk of becoming infected with HIV. Conclusion. The lack of a direct relationship between the level of awareness and the implementation of safer behaviors in terms of HIV infection requires the use of brief preventive conversations for the completion of lack of information and reduction of barrier between knowledge and action.

HIV infection, awareness, risk assessment, prevention