Objective: To study the relationship between characteristics of risk-taking behavior and knowledge level of HIV infection/AIDS and risk perception of HIV infection among young men in an AIDS epidemic area.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among young men aged 18-29 years in 82 villages in Longchuan, Yunnan, China in 1994. Their demographic and behavioral information and knowledge level of AIDS were collected by interviewer administered anonymous questionnaire.
Results: A total of 1,548 subjects were interviewed and 433 were drug abusers, including 192 intravenous users with 73% of them sharing syringes with others. Drug abusers were four times more likely to have pre-/extra-marital sex than non-users. More than half of the interviewees scored zero in HIV/AIDS knowledge.
Conclusion: Factors predisposing spread of HIV infection were common in the local young men. It is recommended that intervention be implemented as soon as possible to prevent HIV infection and AIDS.