KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are pathologies caused by microorganisms, whose main route of transmission is unprotected sex, whether oral, anal or vaginal. Objective: to raise current information on the knowledge of young people / university adults about sexually transmitted infections. Methodology: this is an integrative literature review, in which a synthesis of several studies already published was made, through an online search of scientific productions published in the period from 2014 to 2019. Based on the question: “What is the knowledge about STIs by young people / university adults? ”. Results: The eight selected articles met the inclusion criteria and are distributed as follows: five in the BDENF database; two at Lilacs and one at Medline. Although students gain greater knowledge about the risks of exposure to STIs, given the level of education and access to information, they continue to engage in inappropriate behavior, as they underestimate the likelihood of being infected, as they understand themselves immune and do not identify within themselves. Groups of risk. Final considerations: The research found that young university students have knowledge about infections below the average, showing gaps in knowledge and justifying the importance of health education actions.