HIV/AIDS awareness, attitudes and risk behavior among university students in Wuhan, China.

Background: In China, the estimated number of HIV positives in 2007 was 700,000 and the epidemic continues to expand. Because of their attitudes towards sexual behavior, young people are considered to be a group at high risk.

Methods: Eight hundred sixty-eight undergraduate students at Wuhan University were selected through stratified cluster sampling, to answer a questionnaire. They were divided into three main groups: Chinese medical students, foreign medical students and Chinese students from other faculties. Fourteen interviews were conducted in addition.

Results: Ninety-nine percent of the students had heard of HIV/AIDS and 76% of the students could distinguish HIV from AIDS. The main route of transmission was believed by the Chinese students to be blood transfusion and sexual intercourse by the foreign medical students. The female students knew more about the routes of transmission than the male students. Medical students had a higher level of knowledge than non-medical students, and among the medical students, the foreign students were more knowledgeable than the Chinese students. Only 8 % of the students were sexually active.

Conclusion: The students had an accepting attitude towards people living with HIV and no extensive risk behavior. Overall, the knowledge level was found to be moderate.