Background: Existing studies report that API students are at relatively low risk for HIV/AIDS. However, this finding is based on minimal literature on HIV/AIDS-risk factors among the API student population. This exploratory study collected descriptive data on the HIV/AIDS-related behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge of API college students. Methods: API students (n=129) were recruited from a southern California university to complete a 54-item sexual history and behaviors questionnaire. Students were asked questions assessing demographics, attitudes about condoms, ability to communicate with a partner about safer sex practices, self-efficacy to abstain from sex, sexual experience, condom use, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Twelve exploratory hypotheses were developed based on these questions. Results: Significant gender differences were found regarding the number of partners that a student had in the past year. A significant association was found between students' intention to use a condom and their condom use. Significant associations were not found between condom use and the following: gender, country of birth, age, attitudes about condoms, perceived ability to communicate about HIV/AIDS, self-efficacy to abstain from sex, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The findings of this study offer insight into the sexual-related practices within the API college student population. Further research comparing API students to non-API students must be conducted for a more complete assessment of this ethnic population.
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss twelve hypotheses on the HIV/AIDS-related behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge of API college students. 2. Recognize the need for further research on the HIV/AIDS-risk behaviors of API college students.
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.