Awareness of AIDS control knowledge and associated behavioral investigations among young students in Jiangsu Province
Objective To investigate AIDS-related knowledge,attitudes and practices and their influencing factors among young students in Jiangsu Province,so as to provide insights into the formulation of the AIDS control strategy.Methods Students at ages of 18 to 24 years were sampled using a random cluster sampling method from 98 higher vocational schools and junior high colleges across 13 cities of Jiangsu Province.Participants'demographics,awareness of AIDS control knowledge,behaviors towards AIDS control and needs for sexually-transmitted diseases and AIDS services were collected with self-administered questionnaires,and factors affecting the awareness of AIDS control knowledge were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results A total of 179 633 students were enrolled,among whom 45.91%were male and 54.12%were female,and 67.70%from local province and 32.33%from other provinces.Of all participants,90.51%were heterosexual,1.60%homosexual,3.42%bisexual and 4.62%with unknown sexual orien-tation.The awareness of AIDS control knowledge was 80.99%and the incidence of sexual behaviors was 12.14%,with 25.12%inci-dence of same-sex sexual behaviors,while the use of condoms was 12.02%at first sexual activity.Univariate analysis identified age,gender and sexual orientation as factors affecting the awareness of AIDS control knowledge,and multivariate analysis showed a higher awareness rate of AIDS control knowledge among men[odds ratio(OR)=1.17,95%confidential interval(CI):(1.14,1.21)],students with Han Ethnicity[OR=1.34,95%CI:(1.27,1.43)],heterosexuality[OR=1.37,95%CI:(1.29,1.46)],homosexual-ity[OR=1.17,95%CI:(1.03,1.33)],bisexuality[OR=1.49,95%CI:(1.35,1.65)],from other provinces[OR=1.05,95%CI:(1.02,1.08)],and with a history of sexual behaviors[OR=1.34,95%CI:(1.27,1.41)];however,the awareness of AIDS con-trol knowledge reduced with the increase in the grade.Conclusions The awareness of AIDS control knowledge is high among young students in Jiangsu Province,who have a low incidence rate of sexual behaviors,diverse sexual orientation,a low use of condoms and lack pre-exposure preventive knowledge.Intensified behavioral and sociological interventions of AIDS control and improved accuracy and effectiveness of AIDS control interventions are required among young students in Jiangsu Province.