Conhecimento sobre AIDS e drogas : estabelecendo a diferença entre alunos de enfermagem e outros cursos de graduação

Abstract

Youths are seen as a population, which is vulnerable to infection by HIV/AIDS virus and to contact with drugs. This study had as main objective to measure the knowledge acquired by university students on subjects such as, AIDS and drugs, aiming at identifying significant differences between the knowledge acquired during the first and last years at university and among the variety of university courses offered. Based on a random sample comprising 276 students, admitted and graduating at university in 2007, a 'survey1 was carried out in a State University located in the Northwest Area of Paraná. Data were collected through an anonymous self'-filling questionnaire, with punctual and specific subjects, which was answered by students and validated by specialists in the area. The specific subjects were divided into three levels: lower, average and high complexity level. The sample population comprised 70% female and 30% male students. Most of the students were single 86.6%), 82.7% were in the age group from 17 to 25 years, and 69.9% of the population was self ranged as being 'white people'. Out of that population, 93% lived in the urban area and their average income was between three to seven minimum wages. Most of them had an employment contract (74.3%) with a workload superior to eight hours/day. The main source of information to that population was the television, followed by the Internet. The population investigated reported that they rarely read a newspaper and read a book every six months. The study showed significant differences concerning the students' knowledge on AIDS and drugs, mainly on subjects claimed to be of average and high complexity, but their knowledge was considered insufficient. The students attending the Nursing Course, especially the graduating ones, showed to have higher knowledge concerning AIDS. Although the knowledge on drugs was smaller than the knowledge on AIDS, it was observed that it was larger among the Nursing graduating students than among the students attending the first years and the students attending other areas. The poor knowledge on AIDS and drugs, among the students investigated, besides showing lack of information, showed gaps in teaching, with dissociation of interdisciplinary and inter curricular study contents. Data collected supply subsidies for a deep reflection on those students' education process, thus showing the need for exploring themes, such as Aids and drugs, in the university curriculum/program.