Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among College Students in the U.S

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are one of the most common infectious diseases among young people. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of STDs among college students. Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive survey study that was carried out among 345 undergraduate students at a large public university in the United States. The students were recruited by convenience sampling. The Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) was utilized in the survey. Participants responded to the survey anonymously through the Qualtrics online portal. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted in order to examine the knowledge levels of the STDs in young adults. Independent sample T-tests and ANOVA were used to determine the correlation between the knowledge level and demographic data. SPSS software V. 25 was used for data analysis. Results: 345 undergraduate students aged 18-22 years participated in the study. Among them, 196 (56.8%) were male. The mean score of the STD knowledge was 15.66 ± 5.84 out of 27 points in total. The participants who previously received sexual education courses had higher knowledge scores compared to the others . Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a lack of STD knowledge in young adults. There is a need for educational programs among college students to improve their understanding of STD etiology and prevention.