HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Sexual Activity, and Safer Sex Practices Among Female Students in Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States

Cindy Davis; Lesley Hughes; Melissa Sloan; Catherine Tang; Samuel MacMaster

doi:10.1080/15381500903455950

Back

HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Sexual Activity, and Safer Sex Practices Among Female Students in Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States

Journal article

Peer reviewed

HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Sexual Activity, and Safer Sex Practices Among Female Students in Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States

Cindy Davis, Lesley Hughes, Melissa Sloan, Catherine Tang and Samuel MacMaster

Journal of HIV - AIDS & Social Services, Vol.8(4), pp.414-429

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15381500903455950

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/15381500903455950View

Published Version

Abstract

Public Health and Health Services

Social Work

AIDS

cross-cultural

HIV

international

prevention

Early in the epidemic, HIV infection and AIDS were rarely diagnosed in women. Today, the HIV/AIDS epidemic represents a growing and persistent health threat to women, especially young women. The purpose of the current study was to conduct an international study with female undergraduate college students to assess knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS, current and future sexual behaviors, and condom use self-efficacy. Participants included several convenience samples of female undergraduate college students from three public universities in the southern region of the United States (n = 112), a large public university in Australia (n = 66), and a public university in Hong Kong (n = 93). This research study utilizes a quantitative survey research design. Seventy-seven percent of American women and 66% of Australian women were sexually active compared with only 21% of Chinese women (χ2 = 67.74, p < .001). Of the sexually active women, 86% of Australian women reported regular use of safer sex practices during the past year compared with 69% of American women and 20% of Chinese women (χ2 = 8.9, p < .05). Although the sample as a whole scored generally high on HIV/AIDS awareness, it is not reflected in safe sex practices or intentions for future safe sex practices. Future studies should focus on further understanding the social, cultural, and psychological factors that hamper safe sex practices among this population as well as successful intervention strategies to overcome these barriers.

Details

Title: HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Sexual Activity, and Safer Sex Practices Among Female Students in Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States
Authors: Cindy Davis (Author) - University of Tennessee, United States
Lesley Hughes (Author) - University of New South Wales
Melissa Sloan (Author) - Drew University, United States
Catherine Tang (Author) - National University of Singapore, Singapore
Samuel MacMaster (Author) - University of Tennessee, United States
Publication details: Journal of HIV - AIDS & Social Services, Vol.8(4), pp.414-429
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2009
DOI: 10.1080/15381500903455950
ISSN: 1538-1501
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99447758802621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

2 File views/ downloads

1259 Record Views

1 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Social Work

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites