The article presents the results of a study of factors associated with the risk of HIV infection among young people in St. Petersburg. The research was conducted using the crosssection method in the period from 2016 to 2019, and 1,256 people participated from ages 17-26 years old. Using a structured interview, data was obtained from participants’ answers on their awareness of HIV. The interview was aimed at revealing the subjective risk amongst young people and learning how they perceive HIV can be transmitted. The interview also looked at how HIV can be avoided, i. e, using a condom during sexual contact, abstinence, refusal of intravenous drugs, etc. An assessment was made of the various methods of avoiding HIV and correlation between the factors. The analysis of the data demonstrated that the level of student awareness on the topic of HIV is relatively high at 75.6 % and it did not change significantly throughout the four years of the study. The number of students that associated themselves at risk is 31.5