Knowledge and Perceptions of Chinese Female College Students Towards HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Analysis

• Main Authors: Qiu M (Author), Wu Y (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Dove Medical Press, 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1179-1411
• Keywords: hiv/aids; female college students; china; qualitative content analysis; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991
• Source: International Journal of Women's Health, Vol Volume 14, Pp 1267-1280 (2022)

Mengying Qiu,1 Yijin Wu2 1School of English Studies, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, 400031, People's Republic of China; 2School of Translation Studies, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao, 276825, People's Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yijin Wu, School of Translation Studies, Qufu Normal University, No. 5, Yantai Road, Donggang District, Rizhao, Shandong, 250100, People's Republic of China, Tel/Fax [phone], Email [e-mail]: This study aims to explore knowledge and perceptions of Chinese female college students towards HIV/AIDS.Design, Method, Participants and Setting: A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. Twenty female participants studying at a college located in Chongqing, Southwest China, were involved in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The face-to-face interview data were recorded and analyzed using the method of qualitative inductive content analysis.Results: Five themes were identified from the data of transcribed interviews: HIV transmission routes (sexual transmission; blood transmission; mother-to-child transmission), sources of HIV/AIDS knowledge (education; mass media), AIDS prevention measures (avoiding sexual activity; establishing sense of self-protection; avoiding blood contact), attitudes towards PLWHA (treating all PLWHA equally; showing sympathy for the innocent PLWHA; discriminating against the immoral PLWHA), and suggested solutions to combat AIDS (assistance provided by governments; what health professionals can contribute; mobilization of social power; university intervention).Conclusion: More efforts should be made to strengthen the HIV/AIDS education for female college students of non-medical majors in Southwest China. Accurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the right attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) should be the foci of HIV/AIDS education for this population. In order to better cater future sex education in colleges to the requirements of female college students, educators and lawmakers may benefit from gaining a deeper grasp of their perspectives on HIV/AIDS.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, female college students, China, qualitative content analysis