Third Italian national survey on knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviour in relation to HIV/AIDS risk and the role of health education campaigns

Aim: The survey, supported by the National Health Institute (ISS), investigates on sources of information for HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour of the Italian general population. Methods: The survey was carried out in four different Italian provinces with different geographical, social, and epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS: Bari, Milan, Parma, and Perugia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to interview a sample of 2000 people, aged 18 - 49 years, chosen using a quota-sampling, considering age, sex, and level of education. Results: A total of 1985 persons filled in the questionnaire. Among them, 73.2% reported Ministry of Health as their main source of information and 76.7% TV/radio advertising as their main means of information. Sexually active subjects, experiencing occasional sexual intercourse, were 22.4%; of them 34.6% did not refer a systematic use of condom. Among sexually active people, half (45.7%) reported as irrelevant their risk of infection, 6.9% as high. Being male (OR = 6.175) and having the first sexual intercourse before 18 years (OR = 2.076) were significantly associated with sexual behaviour at risk (males having unsafe sexual intercourses with prostitutes or during partners' menstrual period; both sexes having unsafe occasional sexual intercourses or anal sex), while living in Northern Italy (OR = 0.672) was significantly protective. Subjects with sexual behaviour at risk were about 40%. Conclusions: The need for further education campaigns, and their consequent evaluations, is relevant. Monitoring sexual behaviour of general population, focusing on risk behaviour rather than risk groups, is fundamental nowadays in preventing HIV.