141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

280160
HIV knowledge and behavior among Chinese college students: A survey in China and USA


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:42 p.m.

Wei-Chen Tung, PhD, RN, Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV

Daniel Cook, PhD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV
Minggen Lu, PhD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV
Wei Yang, PhD, MD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV
Background: The prevalence of misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention is alarming among Chinese college students in China and USA. This cross-national comparison study may reveal important contextual factors associated with knowledge and behaviors.

Purposes: (a) to compare HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, sexual behaviors, and sources of HIV/STI information; and (b) to investigate the association between sources of HIV/STI information and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, sexual behaviors among Chinese college students in China and USA. Significance: Better understanding of student-environment interactions may be used to improve targeted prevention and interventions.

Methodology: Comparative, correlational analysis of survey data from 608 students in two countries was used.

Results: Chinese students in the USA scored higher on knowledge questions than those in China, p = 0.035. More Chinese students in the USA (57.9%) reported ever having had sex, compared to 17.8% of students in China (p < .0001). More students in the USA received HIV/STI information from the Internet (OR = 2.67, p = 0.002) and family members (OR = 2.35, p = 0.025) than students in China. Traditional media and schoolteachers showed significant association with participants' HIV-related knowledge, age at first intercourse, and number of sexual partners in both samples. Conclusions: The survey revealed incomplete knowledge within both groups. Prevention programs should focus on risky misconceptions and could teach about improved Internet searching.

Usefulness for Supporting/Strengthening School Health: Schools with young adult students would benefit greatly from sexually-transmitted disease control. Current strategies may not fully incorporate all the relevant health practices and learning modalities.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, sexual behaviors, and sources of HIV/STI information Explain the association between sources of HIV/STI information and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, sexual behaviors among Chinese college students in China and USA

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the primary author of this study and have experience in HIV prevention initiatives and have published previously on this topic. I also oversee the project such as collecting data and analyzing results.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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