Knowledge and information sources on sexually transmitted diseases including aids of students on

Objective: to investigate the information sources of young people on the importance of adopting preventive behaviors regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS and their knowledge with regard to these diseases. Method: this is an exploratory descriptive quantitative study with the application of a questionnaire to 100 students in a technical college in the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. Descriptive statistics was used in the analysis. The results are presented in tables and analyzed according to the literature. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitario Lauro Wanderley (HULW), under the Protocol 209/2010. Results: a total of 58.8% of the students attend the Nursing Technical course, 25% attend the Dental Prosthesis course and 16.3% attend to the Biodiagnosis Technician course. The predominant age group was from 18 to 25 years (61.3%). The students are predominantly female (72.5%). With regard to the sources of information on STDs and AIDS, the primary source is the professor (87.5%) followed by the media (77.5%). Regarding the transmission routes of STDs and AIDS, 93.8% of the sample reported oral sex without a condom and 70% reported vertical transmission. Most students (89%) stressed condom as the method of choice for prevention. Conclusion: it is essential to propose a discussion on the theme as the statistics lead us to create more and more promotion and prevention practices with regard to STDs, stressing the vulnerability of young people. Descriptors: nursing; STD; AIDS; knowledge; vulnerability.