Factors Associated with the Willingness of Higher Education Students to Adhere to Syphilis Screening

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the factors associated with the willingness to know the serological status for syphilis among higher education students. Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted with higher education students in Portugal. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Poisson logistic regression with robust variance, utilizing SPSS-24. Results: A total of 413 students were included, the majority of whom were female, with an average age of 20.5 years, and enrolled in health-related courses. Behavioral vulnerabilities such as not using condoms and using alcohol/other drugs were observed; there was also a low-risk perception and poor knowledge about syphilis. Less than half of the students were willing to undergo the syphilis test. Conclusions: Adherence to syphilis screening was low and associated with uncommon factors such as lower knowledge, low risk perception, younger age, fewer sexual partnerships, and enrollment in courses outside the health field.