Today, young individuals get involved in sexual relationsat an early age in the absence of contraceptive methods that prevent the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (ETS) [1-5]; it is important to note that the incidence of sexual relations is increasing worldwide, a situation that makes it imperative that special attention be paid to the sexual conduct of adolescents [3, 6].

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a disease that threatens the general population, affecting the body system, as well as mental health and social relationships [7-9].

After sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, Latin America is the most affected region by HIV. It is estimated that, in the year 2018, 100,000 people in Latin America contracted HIV, which represents an increase of 7% compared to 2010. Approximately, half of the countries that make up the region experienced an increase in its incidence during the period of 2010 to 2018, with the most significant rises occurring in Brazil, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and Chile [10].

Young people between the ages of 16 and 20 are in the high-risk group for HIV/AIDS in most parts of the world, as young people are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and engage in unprotected sex [11]. According to figures provided by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), around 30 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 contracted HIV every hour in 2017 [12]. In the case of Peru, according to the statistics provided by the Ministry of Health, in the period from 1983 to 2016, a total of 65,657 cases of HIV and 34,438 cases of AIDS were reported. Of the latter amount, 2.6% corresponded to people between 10 and 19 years of age, and 29.3% in those between 20 and 29 years of age. However, it is necessary to highlight that this disease has a long incubation period; thus, a large percentage of the latter value must have been infected before the age of 20 [13].

Literature on the knowledge of HIV and the attitude of young people to the risk of contracting it involves a wide range of studies carried out on this topic [1, 6, 11, 14-25].

In these studies, among other aspects, it is found that, in general, there is little and sometimes erroneous knowledge on the part of adolescents regarding HIV and STDs, as well as a denial of any vulnerability to contracting this virus. Some research has found a relationship between knowledge about HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards sexuality [24, 26], as well as there is research that has not identified a relationship between these variables [27, 28]. Despite the extensive scientific literature on this topic, there is no consensus regarding the level of information that adolescents have in relation to sexual health. Interestingly, where there is coherence is the fact that the use of contraceptive methods in adolescents is not sufficient, thus, it implies that the level of information does not necessarily lead to a preventive attitude [16].

Although in the literature, consulted people have been found to be sometimes aware of HIV transmission, there is a lack of understanding about the risk and potential danger of this disease, a situation that increases the vulnerability of young people and adolescents to HIV/AIDS [5, 29]. In the case of Peru, there are some concerning difficulties in ascertaining the situation of STDs [13], which makes it even more difficult to prevent and improve this situation. Similarly, AIDS programs, particularly those aimed at young people, focus on preventive measures [30], thus leaving a knowledge gap about STDs in the young population. Lack of knowledge, in addition to inaccurate concepts related to STDs, can lead to negative sexual consequences [19]. Sex education is known to be most effective when it is based on the opinions of the adolescents themselves; however, research studying the experiences of youth and adolescents who have received sex education is limited [18]. Undoubtedly, sex education is an excellent source of guidance for young people and adolescents regarding sexuality, sexual health, and relationships, resulting in a possible improvement in the sexual health of this population.

Due to the aforementioned aspects, the objective of this study was to inquire what knowledge the students at a Peruvian university have about HIV/AIDS in order to determine the relationship between this knowledge and their attitudes towards sexuality.

According to Table 1, a total sample of 294 students was evaluated. It can be observed that there is a higher percentage of people between 21 and 23 years of age, with 38.3% being female and 36% male. Likewise, according to the academic cycle, a higher percentage is observed in those students belonging to the first cycle (53%).

As can be observed in Table 2, 54.76% of those surveyed had adequate knowledge about HIV, while 45.24% were unaware of matters related to it.

As can be seen in Table 3, the attitude towards sexuality was mostly regular in 75.17% of the cases.

As can be seen in Table 4, there is sufficient evidence to affirm that the level of knowledge about HIV is associated with attitude towards sexuality.

As can be seen in Table 5, the significance .000 is less than .05; thus, there is enough evidence to affirm that the level of knowledge about HIV correlates with the attitude of adolescents towards sexuality. Consequently, the more adequate the knowledge about HIV, the less students present risk-taking attitudes towards sexuality.

As can be seen in Table 6, the significance is greater than .05; thus, there is sufficient evidence to deny any correlation between Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and age.

As can be seen in Table 7, there is enough evidence to affirm that age positively correlates with attitude towards sexuality, since its significance is less than 0.01.

After analyzing the results shown in Table 8, it is concluded that a minority of people engage in high-risk sexual behavior at different ages. However, the respondents corresponding to the age range of 21-23 years are most engages in regular risk level sexual behavior.

As can be seen in Table 9 , according to the opinion of the students, the item with the greatest impact in terms of knowledge about HIV was “most sexually transmitted infections can be totally cured with timely and adequate treatment”.

As can be seen in Table 10 , according to the opinion of the students, the item with the greatest impact in terms of attitude towards sexuality was ” Masturbation causes acne”.

Of the total sample analyzed (n = 294), the majority was male; n = 161 (55%). The age range between 21 and 23 years was the most representative of the sample, being 37% of the total. Likewise, according to the academic cycle, a higher percentage of students belonging to the first cycle was observed (53%). In the same way, 75% of the students were found to have a regular attitude towards sexuality, followed by 17% having a bad attitude and, finally, the lowest percentage corresponded to the students with a good attitude towards sexuality represented by 8% of the sample. It was found that only 54.8% of the students had adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS (Table 2), unlike the findings reported previously [25], which indicated that Iranian students have low knowledge accompanied by erroneous beliefs, which generates a greater risk of contagion.

It is important to highlight that as a result of the bibliographic review, young people and adolescents were found to have misconceptions about HIV, thinking that it is transmitted by a handshake, by witchcraft or that HIV has a quick cure [24].

An inverse and significant relationship was found between the level of knowledge about HIV and the attitude that adolescents have towards sexuality, with a p = .000 and an r = -. 304, which indicates that the more adequate the knowledge is of HIV, the less adolescents’ attitudes towards sexuality will be based on risk-taking.

The results obtained in this study correspond to those obtained earlier [24], which found a significant association between attitudes towards sexuality and knowledge, reporting that participants who had inadequate knowledge about HIV manifested negative attitudes and participated in risky practices that could lead to HIV contraction.

Among the results obtained in this study, a greater number of students’ knowledge, n=131 (81%), about HIV / AIDS was adequate and they had a regular attitude towards (Table 4), which, although true, is neither positive nor negative. These results coincide in a certain way with a study conducted earlier [21], which demonstrated students with greater knowledge about HIV to present low-risk sexual behavior.

Regardless of the level of knowledge that students had regarding HIV, they could engage in risky sexual behaviours, as evidenced in the results shown in Table 11. For example, students with adequate knowledge indicated having a regular attitude towards sexuality 81% of the time, and in turn, students who demonstrated inadequate knowledge indicated having a regular attitude towards sexuality 68% of the time. However, it should be noted that the percentage of students with adequate knowledge who reported having a good attitude towards sexuality (12%) was higher compared to students with inadequate knowledge and having a good attitude towards sexuality (4%).

This variability of results between knowledge about HIV and behavior towards sexuality has been explained from different points of view by authors [16], who have pointed out that there exists no significant relationship between knowledge about sexual health and risky sexual conduct exercised by adolescents. Many young people start having sexual relations at an early age whilst being aware of pregnancy and STDs; however, despite being aware of STDs, they have little knowledge about methods of prevention. On the other hand, a research work [41] stated that the grade of familiarity with respect to HIV/AIDS and its prevention does not correspond to patterns of sexual conduct, which was reflected in the students when engaging in riskier sexual behavior For instance, in a study [27], 65% of the young people and adolescents surveyed had regular knowledge of STIs, however, there was no indication of significance between this knowledge and the practice of risky sexual conduct. Aditionally, Duyan [42] found university students in Turkey to have scarce awareness regarding sexuality, and that this knowledge is not related to attitudes towards sex. Likewise, a study by Abuabat et al. [28] found no significant difference between the variables of knowledge and attitudes towards STIs in medical students. On the other hand, Folasayo et al. [19] observed that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the causes of STDs not related to HIV and that there is a high rate of risk-taking behavior amongst sexually active students in Malaysia, 66.7% of which revealed to have multiple sexual partners and 18% of which engaged in relations with sex workers. Besides, 17.4% were found to consume alcohol and 9.4% drugs before having sex.

Regarding attitude towards sexuality in the results obtained in our study, the most relevant item was “masturbation causes acne”, while the item with the greatest impact in terms of knowledge about HIV was “most sexually transmitted infections can be totally cured with timely and adequate treatment”. The latter coincides with the results of Folasayo et al. [19], who indicated that the majority of respondents affirmed that treatment should be sought immediately if they or their partners present symptoms.

Regarding attitude towards sexuality and age, a positive relationship was found between these two variables, with an r = .152 and a p = .009, and it was concluded that a minority of people engage in high-risk sexual behaviour within the different age groups. However, the respondents corresponding to the age range of 21-23 years were the ones who most engaged in sexual behaviour with a regular level of risk. However, a study [24] found a significant association between risky sexual practices and the age range of 15 to 19 years.

An inverse and significant relationship was found between the level of knowledge about HIV and the attitude that adolescents have towards sexuality. Likewise, a positive relationship was found between attitude towards sexuality and age; the respondents corresponding to the age range of 21-23 years were most found to be engaged in regular risk level sexual practices.

Given that only 54.76% of those surveyed had adequate knowledge about HIV and evidence of risky sexual behaviour was found in all age groups, as well as a significant number of participants engaged in regular risk sexual behaviour, we suggest that universities implement sex education programs permanently as well as safe sex practices should be promoted regardless of the academic cycle.

This study recommends the authorities of the Peruvian health and education sector to take measures regarding the promotion of school-based health programs, given that there is a lack of information regarding the health needs of Peruvian students. As evidenced in the scientific literature consulted, in the results of this study, and also according to data obtained from the Ministry of Health, there are concerning difficulties in ascertaining the situation regarding STDs in Peru.