Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

In the United States, one in four new HIV infections are among youth ages 13-24 and globally AIDS is the second leading cause death among young people ages 10-24. Studies show that low HIV and sexual health knowledge is a key barrier to reducing HIV infections among youth. In this study, we describe the impact of an online college-credit HIV/AIDS course on student HIV-related risk behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of HIV. The course, entitled AIDS Online International (AOI), was offered at Purdue University Northwest over a period of six years and 18 consecutive semesters (Spring 2010 – Fall 2015, 943 students). All students participated in an online pre/post-course survey (PreCAS, PostCAS). Using a custom textbook and the Blackboard learning platform, students participated in five months of in-depth activities/studies including HIV prevention, transmission, testing, treatment, the science of HIV disease, drug therapy, the global impact of HIV/AIDS, and more. After taking AOI, students reported 1) more HIV prevention discussions with sexual partners (PreCAS-13±7%, PostCAS-24±10%) and peers (PreCAS-19±6%, PostCAS-51±10%), 2) more reluctance in having unsafe sex (PostCAS-80±7%), 3) a change in behaviors that placed them at risk of infection (PreCAS-23±9%, PostCAS-42±7%), 4) confidence in how to prevent HIV infection (PreCAS-23±6%, PostCAS-78±7%), 5) increased belief that HIV causes AIDS (PreCAS-75±11%, PostCAS-90±6%), and 6) increased willingness to care for a relative with HIV (PreCAS-66±8%, PostCAS-81±9%). Overall, the course had a positive impact on student risk behaviors, and AOI has proven to be a viable and sustainable model in HIV/AIDS education and prevention strategies.