Impact of HIV/AIDS Awareness on the Sexual Behaviour of Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the associated Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have remained a public health concern. While it has been identified that young adults including most undergraduate students are potentially risk factors for the spread of HIV/AIDS, studies have emphasized on vaginal sexual intercourse as it is the most probable method of transmission. Yet, there is a population of unmarried Muslim girls who are deterred from virginal sex by their religious demand for virginity until marriage. Thus, the objective of this work is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of research articles from Nigeria on sexual behaviour of undergraduate students in order to assess the validity of research findings to unmarried Muslim girls in north-east Nigeria. This mini-review was designed to be a critical appraisal of literature. The method employed a peer-reviewed protocol on ‘how to critically appraise an article’. Standard questions of the protocol were adopted verbatim to critically appraise two articles that were identified. The findings from the appraisal draw attention to the lack of, and need for investigation of the level of behavioural change wheel among Muslim undergraduate students. In particular, how awareness level of HIV/AIDS influences their sex behaviour has yet to be articulated. The paper articulates what is already known with a view to developing the community needs assessment program of work.