This study was carried out to determine the knowledge of HIV among freshmen of University of Port
Harcourt, in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria, their sexual behaviour as well as their level of awareness of some
of the factors that promote the spread of the infection. One hundred fresh students (50 males and 50 females)
were recruited for this study from January to March 2010. Information was obtained using a Performa specially
designed for this purpose. The results showed that of the 100 questionnaires administered, only 92(92.0%)
responded. Respondents were all Christians 92(100.0%), 90 of them were single (97.8%) and two were married
(2.2%). Their age ranged from 16 to 25 years. The male:female ratio was 1:1. Eighty-six students (93.5%) had
knowledge of HIV and AIDS, 97.8% were aware that HIV and AIDS is real, 97.8% knew that HIV/AIDS is not
curable once in the blood but preventable, 97.8% were aware that people are living with the virus, 98.9% were
aware that going for screening was wise, 97.8% were aware that HIV cannot be transmitted through hugging,
dancing, eating etc., 14.1% had unprotected sex, 84.8% said that use of condoms were not 100.0% safe, 96.7%
knew that there were people living with HIV and AIDS, 58.7% were sexually active, 7.6% had more than multiple
sexual partners, shares needles, syringes and sharp instruments and 7.6% knew that HIV and AIDS were
manageable, 6.5% had been involved in risky sexual behaviour, 1.1% had sex in order to gain money, food,
admission or pass examination, 45.7% drinks alcohol, none were intravenous drug user (IDU). Also, study on
respondents ideas of factors that promote the spread of the HIV infections showed the following percentages:
unprotected sex (90.2%), unprotected sex and unsterilized/sharp objects (75.0%), unprotected sex and
transfusion of unscreened blood (8.9%), blood transfusion and unsterilized instrument (5.4%), unprotected sex
and unfaithfulness (3.3%) and others: illiteracy, stigmatization, ignorance, poverty, bad habits, poor information
and delayed treatment (14.1%). This study has highlighted the knowledge, attitude and practices of the
HIV/AIDS among freshmen in the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Students still lack basic information on
HIV/AIDS pandemic. It also suggests that intravenous drug use (IDU) is not prevalent among Uniport students,
but the use of alcohol and other drugs that can impair decision making about sexual choices and behavior is
frequent. This calls for a concerted effort to implement a clear-cut plan to establish the necessary infrastructure
and resources to control the HIV infection among students. It is imperative for government and other
community based organizations to give prospective university students attention on HIV/AIDS education and
prevention to carry along the population in the struggle against the pandemic being the most vulnerable group
given all sorts of experimentations. Enlightenment campaigns on HIV/AIDS and education programme on safe
sex and behavior change among fresh students of university remain key responses to the epidemic.