Background: Young people are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Bangladesh.Lack of knowledge about reproductive health issues is also common in this group.Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health of young female university students (19-27 years) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 402 female students from seven universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic information, knowledge, and perceptions of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.
Descriptive analysis was used, Vacuum Belt and data were presented as frequencies and percentages.Results: The majority of the participants were young, unmarried, undergraduate students.Most of the participants reported that they knew about STDs (79%) and HIV/AIDS (66%).However, knowledge about the modes of transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor.HIV/AIDS was considered by 90% participants as a public health threat to Bangladesh, mostly due to illiteracy (76%), increased mortality (20%), existence of risky sexual behavior (18%), and Irons aggression of Western culture (31%).
About 65% of the participants mentioned that AIDS can be prevented by safe sexual practice, 55% mentioned prevention through upholding religious values and moral education, and 59% mentioned that education about AIDS would help prevent transmission.Conclusions: Although a majority of young Bangladeshi female students reported knowing about HIV/AIDS, their knowledge regarding transmission and prevention of the diseases was poor.Strategies for creating reproductive health education targeted at young female students are essential for the prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS.