Risk Perception About HIV Among University Students in One of the Last Hotspots for HIV Transmission in Europe

Background HIV testing in the Northern Kosovo province is challenging, because the infrastructure is being rebuilt after the ethnic conflict. The purpose of this research was to examine self-perceived risk for acquiring HIV infection and factors associated with risk assessment among university students. Methods Students completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic data, knowledge about HIV prevention and transmission, attitudes toward people living with (PLHIV) and self-perceived risk for HIV infection. The self-perceived risk was categorized as low, unknown and high. Results The majority of students (72.5%) assessed their risk as low, 8.5% assessed their risk as high and 19.1% did not know their risk. Compared to low self-perceived risk, high self-perceived HIV risk was associated with being male, having lower knowledge about HIV prevention, less strong Segregation and protection attitude toward PLHIV, stronger Ignorance and indifference attitude toward PLHIV and positive opinion about gays/lesbians. Students who perceived own risk for acquiring HIV as high had lower knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention. However, those who were previously tested for HIV, despite their poorer knowledge about HIV prevention, assess their HIV-related risk as low. Conclusions Students assessed their risk of HIV infection mostly as low. Still, lower knowledge of HIV prevention has been consistently associated with a high and unknown risk of HIV. Moreover, being ignorant and indifferent about PLHIV was associated with increased self-perceived HIV risk. These findings highlight the need for continuous specialized HIV-related education to reduce fear and stigma of PLHIV and HIV testing as well as risky behaviors.