Knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of risk related to HIV/AIDS among Chinese university students in Hunan, China

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV and AIDS among college students in Taiwan

HIV infection rates in Taiwan have been growing at nearly 15% per year since 1997, one of the fastest rates in Asia. Little is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors of college-age young adults in Taiwan. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, sources of HIV information, and behaviors related to HIV among college students; it also explored variables associated with the knowledge and attitudes about HIV among college students in Taiwan. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 132 Taiwanese college students enrolled in two private universities. Study results showed that fewer than half (48.5%) of the participants were aware that HIV could be spread through infected semen, and, nearly a quarter of participants believed that HIV could be contracted through mosquito bites, toilet seats, or swimming pools. Only 29.5% reported ever having had sex. This research provides additional insights that may be used to develop effective HIV prevention strategies in Taiwan.

Nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of sexual risk behavior: a study in Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania

The continuing escalation of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed our perceptions of sexual health. This article reports on a study of nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of sexual risk behaviour in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania and of how these perceptions are associated with background variables. Questionnaire data were collected in year 2006 with a modified version of Chng and Moore's Safer Sex Scale (1993), which consists of 12 background questions and 10 items exploring nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of sexual risk behaviour. Responses were obtained from 1152 nurses and nursing students. Their perceptions of sexual risk behaviour appeared to be quite cautious. The results revealed statistically significant country differences, with Finnish and Estonian respondents showing more cautious perceptions of sexual risk behavior than Lithuanian respondents. Some background variables were found to be associated with perceptions of sexual risk behavior. Nurses' perceptions differed from those of nursing students: the latter were less cautious in their perceptions. The most important background factor was previous experience of nursing an HIV/AIDS patient: nurses and students who had such experience reported more cautious perceptions than those who did not. In addition, age was found to correlate with perceptions of sexual risk behavior. Nurses and nursing students need to be more aware of their own perceptions of sexual risk behavior and the impact of those perceptions on their clinical practice. Interventions need to be developed in order to promote safer sex practices. Health care personnel should have the opportunity in their training to work with HIV/AIDS patients.

Study on Peer-Led School-Based HIV/AIDS Prevention among Youths in a Medium-Sized City in China

HIV/AIDS epidemic is crucial in China; however, few studies were performed on youths. This study was performed to examine the effectiveness of peer-led HIV prevention intervention on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour intention in senior high-school students in San-ming, a medium-sized city in Fujian province. Three thousand and sixty-eight students completed self-administered questionnaires before and after intervention, of which 981 students (the intervention group) accepted peer-led HIV/AIDS prevention intervention and others (the control groups) continued the usual teacher-led health education curriculum. Significant increases were observed in the intervention group in HIV-related knowledge, in attitudes and in behaviour intention after intervention. The results of this research also indicated an inconsistent level of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitude among students, with a significant gender, health education history and style difference in session delivery. More concerted efforts in HIV prevention are needed to improve young people's sexual health.

HIV-related stigma in health care settings: a survey of service providers in China

We examined how individual and institutional factors in health care settings affected discrimination toward persons with HIV/AIDS. A representative sample of 1101 Chinese service providers was recruited in 2005, including doctors, nurses, and laboratory technicians. Multiple regression models were used to describe associations among identified variables, the relationships with HIV-related personal prejudicial attitudes, and perceived institutional support and discrimination at work. Multivariate analyses revealed that respondents' general view of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their perceived levels of support from their institutions regarding protection procedures were both important predictors for discrimination intent. Perceived institutional support varied according to age, gender, ethnicity, and training background. A better understanding of HIV-related discrimination in health care settings requires consideration of both individual and institutional factors.

Inequality and unwillingness to care for people living with HIV/AIDS: a survey of medical professionals in Southeast China

This study was aimed at assessing physicians' and physician assistants' knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and identifying determinants of willingness to care for infected individuals in Southeast China. From May to June 2004, 454 physicians and physician assistants from 5 different medical facility levels in Fujian Province, China, undertook a survey on knowledge, attitude, behavior, and practice (KABP). Only 40.4% (95% confidence intervals: 35.9, 44.9) were willing to provide healthcare services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitude scores (p = 0.01) as well as the proportion of those willing to provide care (p < 0.001) significantly differed by facility level. Multivariate analysis identified supportive attitudes toward PLWHAs (p < 0.001), self-confidence in providing care (p < 0.001), and facility level as significant predictors of willingness to care for infected individuals. Village medical stations showed the most unfavorable outcomes. Enhanced education as well as specific programs promoting supportive attitudes and willingness to care is therefore required, especially among those working at lower facility levels in remote areas.

A traditional society in change encounters HIV/AIDS: knowledge, attitudes, and risk behavior among students in northwestern China

China has to date in general only been moderately affected by the global HIV epidemic, but there are cities, particularly in Yunnan, with a high prevalence. This situation seems to be changing, however, with the risk of a rapidly growing epidemic. Our aim was to investigate the level of knowledge about HIV and AIDS and risk behavior among young people at Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China. Xinjiang has a population of mixed minority groups and Han Chinese. The largest minority group is the Uygur (8.82 million), who are Sunni Muslims and speak a Turkish language. Questionnaires were handed out to 400 students. Twenty open interviews were conducted after invitation to the students answering the questionnaires and their friends. All but one had heard about HIV/AIDS and approximately 95% knew the most common routes of transmission: sexual contact, mother to child, and sharing needles. Eighty percent also knew about transmission through breastfeeding. There were some knowledge gaps about how HIV is not transmitted. The questionnaires showed that only 5.7% of the undergraduate students admitted to being sexually active. Twenty-eight percent of the undergraduates and 17% of the postgraduates would not tell anyone if they were infected with HIV. In the interviews the students' knowledge of HIV/AIDS seems to be superficial. Although they did not display high sexual risk behavior during the time of our study, attitudes are changing, and becoming more liberal. We believe that extensive information about sex, infection, and protective measures is crucial to help China prevent an epidemic.