Additional File 1: Response of Students on Questions Related to Knowledge and Source Of

Additional File 1: Response of students on questions related to knowledge and source of information n % N=1139 What STIs have you heard of? AIDS 980 86.0 Syphilis 381 33.5 Leukemia 300 26.3 Gonorrhoea 237 20.8 Herpes 87 7.6 Rheumatoid arthritis 54 4.7 Chlamydia 33 2.9 Trichomoniasis 13 1.1 Don’t know 103 9.0

What are some of the symptoms of STIs? Itching on genital area 429 37.7 Sores on sexual organs 417 36.6 Painful urination 341 29.9 Discharge from genital area 310 27.2 Feeling of weakness 249 21.9 Genital warts 178 15.6 Body sores 99 8.7 Abdominal pain 512 4.5 Don’t know 380 33.4

Which of the following do you think are the measures to avoid getting STIs? Avoid sexual contact with prostitutes 777 68.2 Use condom during sex 612 53.7 Avoid sexual intercourse 399 35.0 Limit number of sexual partners 364 32.0 Avoid homosexual contact 335 29.4 Sterilize syringes/needles 147 12.9 Non penetrative sex 103 9.0 Take antibiotics prior to sexual intercourse 62 5.4 Don’t know 122 10.7

Among the following who are at risk of getting STIs? Those who have multiple sex partners 726 63.7 Those who receive contaminated blood 682 59.9 Sex workers 612 53.7 Homosexuals, bisexuals 408 35.8 Those who have sexual relations with prostitutes 354 31.1 Drug addicts 344 30.2 Nobody, equal possibilities 66 5.8 Don’t know 132 11.6

Table 2 …….continued n % Which of the following do you think are the complications of STIs? Increased risk of HIV/AIDS 787 69.1 Increased risk of other infectious conditions 377 33.1 Fertility problems 339 29.8 Some kind of cancer 213 18.7 Don’t know 208 18.3

STIs can be transmitted by which of the following acts? Vaginal sex 781 68.6 Anal intercourse 522 45.8 Oral sex 357 31.3 Kissing 95 8.3 Hugging 14 1.2 Don’t know 241 21.2

Which of the following organisms do you think can cause STIs? Virus 568 49.9 Bacteria 405 35.6 Fungi 118 10.4 Don’t know 333 29.2

Which of the following sources do you think are effective in providing information on STIs? News papers/Magazines 792 69.5 TV shows/Movies 585 51.4 Friends 484 42.5 Internet 391 34.3 Seminars 218 19.1 Family/Parents 192 16.9 Text books 165 14.5 Teachers 10 0.9 No information 48 4.2

Note: Multiple responses were obtained so the collective percentage was not 100%