Determinants of condom use intention in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among Chinese college students

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate Chinese junior college students\u27 condom use intentions to prevent HIV/AIDS. The following research question was addressed: How is knowledge about HIV/AIDS risk, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, prevention expectancies, and prior condom use related to condom use intention among college students? Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed in this study. Variables for the survey were selected from the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Self-Efficacy Theory. A questionnaire was modified and translated from an English instrument and back-translated to ensure cultural relevance and sensitivity. In addition, twenty students were purposely selected for interviewing among those who indicated they had had sexual encounters. Of all the students in the survey sample, 29% males and 9% females admitted having sexual experiences. Data analysis was based on the subsample (N = 302) who had sexual experience. The subjects\u27 knowledge of AIDS-related risk behavior produced an average score of 68% correct responses based on true-false questions. Knowledge, however, was not significantly related to any of the other variables. Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze students\u27 intentions for condom use to prevent HIV/AIDS. For all students, prior condom use was the most important determinant of intention for future condom use. For male students, the estimated odds ratio of prior condom use and self-efficacy were significantly associated with intention to use condoms. This finding suggests that the actual practice to master the skill of condom use is critical. For female students, prior condom use and attitudes significantly predicted the intention for condom use. Themes from the interview data were students\u27 general HIV/AIDS knowledge, sources of sex education, perceived risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS, strategies for managing risk, discussion content and the influences of parents, siblings, friends, and sexual partners on students\u27 personal norms. The implication from the interview data was that prevention of pregnancy was the most important factor for students to use condoms, rather than fear of contracting STDs or HIV/AIDS. Thus, suggestions for education programs are discussed