ABSTRACT
STDs, including HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, remain major global health concerns, with young adults being disproportionately affected. Nigeria, like many other countries, faces challenges in STD prevention and control. This study investigated the knowledge and awareness of preventive practices regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess the knowledge and awareness levels among 260 respondents selected through convenience sampling.The majority of respondents (81.5%) demonstrated good knowledge of STDs, indicating a satisfactory level of understanding.A high level of awareness (86%) regarding preventive practices for STDs was observed among nursing students, indicating the effectiveness of educational efforts. However, there are areas where awareness could be improved, such as misconceptions about the effectiveness of douching and risks associated with multiple sexual partners. Comprehensive sex education beyond knowledge dissemination is recommended to address these gaps.Behavioral and sexual factors such as alcohol consumption, substance use, and early sexual initiation were prevalent among respondents and can influence STD prevention practices. A significant relationship was found between STD knowledge and awareness of preventive practices among nursing students, rejecting the null hypothesis. This emphasizes the importance of enhancing STD knowledge to improve preventive measures among nursing students. In conclusion, the findings indicate that while there is a commendable level of knowledge and awareness among the students regarding STDs and preventive practices, there are still areas that require improvement. The researcher therefore recommend that tertiary institution should design campaigns to increase knowledge about STDs and prevention through social media, schools, and communities Keyword: Knowledge, Awareness, Preventative practice, STDs, Undergraduate.
