Perception on AIDS infection risk and condom use among 2785 college students having had sexual experience in Zhejiang province

Objective To study the HIV infection risk perception, sexual behavior and condom use among college students who had sexual experiences. Methods Using data generated from a survey on AIDS related knowledge and risk perception and sexual behavior (conducted in a coast city of Zhejiang province in 2003), with a questionnaire involving self-reporting history of sexual experience. Software SPSS 12.0 for windows was used for statistical analysis. Results 47.0 percent of the 2785 students having had sexual experience did not feel that sexual experience was related to HIV risk while 51.3 percent them considered their sexual behavior was at much low risk. 80.5 percent of the students with sexual experience had ever used condoms, but only 16.0 percent used it consistently. There was no association between risk perception and condom use, but there was association between risk perception and intention for condom use. Conclusion The college students having had sexual experience had low level of risk perception on HIV infection and had a high rate of ever condom use but low in consistent use. Extensive and detailed prevention intervention was needed to improve the safe sexual behaviors.