Risk Perception of Hiv Infection in Young Adults Attending the Preventive Health Service at the Iess Santo Domingo Outpatient Center

Abstract

Limited knowledge, misinformation, fear of contagion, homophobia, early initiation of sexual relations, multiple sexual partners, lack of condom use, and unprotected sexual practices; they constitute predictors of risk of HIV/AIDS infection. The fear of contagion leads to a sense of threat conceived from symbolic meanings, which influence the perception of risk of contagion without foundation. Studies carried out with different populations show a low perception of risk in the majority of the population, the greater awareness of perception is in women. The objective of the study is to analyze the perception of HIV risk associated with sexual behavior in young adults of all genders who attend the preventive medicine service, in order to fully understand the phenomenon and thus set a precedent for the development of more efficient strategies. to prevent contagion. Through a cross-sectional descriptive study, in a population between 18 and 40 years old, who attends the IESS Santo Domingo Ambulatory Center, a low perception of risk is evidenced, especially in women, in addition to the fact that 35% of the patients investigated do not use the condom and 46% do so occasionally, regardless of whether it is a casual relationship.