Investigation on knowledge,attitude and behavior of HIV/AIDS among out-of-school youth in a county in Yunnan Province

Objective To investigate the knowledge and attitude and behavior of HIV/AIDS among out-of-school youth in Longchuan County in Yunnan Province,so as to develop health education and reduce AIDS transmission and infection.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with convenience sampling.Totally,292 out-of-school youths aged 14-25 years were recruited for the study with self-designed structured questionnaire,which included knowledge,attitude and behavior related to HIV/AIDS. Results Of all the 292 out-of-school youths,overall awareness rate of knowledge related to HIV/AIDS was 77.3%.38.4 percent of youths(112 persons) self-reported that they had ever sexual intercourse with others and 8.6% of youths(25 persons) self-reported that they had ever been diagnosed as sexually transmitted infections.Only 7.4% of youths could insist on using condom during every sexual intercourse.Results of logistic regression analysis showed that factors,such as age of more than 18 years,living in families with heroin addicts,ever receiving AIDS-related education,drinking alcohol,without own incomes living depending on their families,all associated with their sexual behavior.Conclusion Out-of-school youths in Longchuan County were aware of certain AIDS-related knowledge.But,the proportion of having sex is higher among them which was related to external environment.It is necessary to strengthen health education for them to prevent and control transmission and infection of HIV/AIDS.