Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News

Health sciences professor Joseph Inungu is conducting a survey to find out what Central Michigan University students know about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Inungu said he thinks AIDS has fallen out of the public eye, and he would like to remind people it still exists. [Click to enlarge]

Health sciences professor Joseph Inungu knows research has shown that cases of HIV/AIDS among college students are rising.

But he wants to ensure CMU students do not follow the trend.

Inungu is the creator of a survey that has been circulating around campus for a few weeks. He said the goal of the survey is to find out how much CMU students actually know about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

"We want to collect information to determine the level of knowledge in our community," he said. "With that information, we can influence the proper courses that can be offered, especially in the school of health sciences."

Inungu said University Health Services could be altered based on the results of the survey.

"If our students are not aware with the basic things, then it will be shared with Health Services about setting up something different," Inungu said.

Inungu said changes might include screening and testing for HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Iowa graduate student Sara Langford-Von Glahn is assisting Inungu with the survey results.

Langford-Von Glahn said a random sample of students have been chosen to take the survey.

Inungu said he is waiting until 70 percent of the sample has responded; he is hoping to reach that number in a few more weeks.

He said results of the survey will be available two or three months after that.

Inungu also said he hopes the survey challenges students and encourages them to ask the question, "Should I change my behavior?"

"This is real stuff here," he said.

Inungu said the only state to show an increase in HIV/AIDS among college students is North Carolina, but that other states should not wait to act.

"It is becoming a crisis," he said. "We don't want to wait until it is too late."


news@cm-life.com

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