Gender differences in sexual behaviours among students at the University of Zambia, Lusaka

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess gender disparities in HIV / AIDS knowledge and sexual behaviours among university students in Lusaka, Zambia. The study employed an exploratory comparative design to elicit information on HIV / AIDS and sexual behaviour from a sample of 236 undergraduate students aged 16-30, who completed self-administered questionnaires. Although most respondents had high knowledge levels some of them continued engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours. Of the males, 50.0% (n=59) and of the females 35.2% (n=41) reportedly did not use condoms during their last sexual encounters. Seventy percent (n=83) of the males and 33% (n=38) of the females sometimes used condoms. Of the male students 9.3% (n=11), and of the females 5.0% (n=6), had reportedly never used condoms. More than half (58.9%; n=69) of the females, and 27.3 % (n=24) of the males had two sexual partners and 16 (13.6%) females and 12 (10.2%) males had three sexual partners. There appeared to be a critical need to inform the university students about adverse consequences of sexual activities and about ways to protect themselves against these risks.