Investigation of AIDS-related high-risk behaviors and self-testing services among students from traditional Chinese medicine university

Abstract

Abstract Objective To investigate the awareness of AIDS self-testing services and associated factors, as well as the cognition of AIDS-related high-risk behaviors in students of traditional Chinese medical universities. Methods: 716 sophomores participated in a questionnaire survey concerning their understanding of AIDS-related high-risk behaviors. Results: Although there had been a decline in accuracy, university students continued to have the best knowledge of HIV blood transfer, mother-to-child transmission, and sexual transmission of AIDS. More than half of the students misbelieved that the transmission was caused by an HIV-positive person sneezing or coughing (57.54%) or by a mosquito or other blood-sucking bug bites (68.44%). Ritual kissing with HIV-infected persons (52.93%) and sharing a bathroom or swimming pool with them (53.91%) were thought to be the ways that HIV spread. Male and female students had different cognition of men who have sex with men risk factors (P < 0.05). Monthly expenses (> 2000 CNY) [AOR = 5.34 (2.92–9.76)] had a higher odds of a good level of AIDS voluntary counseling and self-testing services. Conclusion: Sophomore university students need to learn professional AIDS high-risk behavior knowledge. Targeted and timely HIV risk education should be taught in college courses, focusing on AIDS self-testing education among students.