Abstract
BackgroundUsing condoms consistently could prevent unintended pregnancy among young people. This study highlights multiple domains of influence on condom use among male college students in China, including knowledge, attitudes, health services utility on condom use and reproductive health information sources.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo identify factors associated with condom use in Chinese male college students, we examined a sample of 870 sexually experienced male students in seven colleges in Wuhan, China, 2009. 535 (61.5%) of 870 male students reported condom use during their most recent sexual encounter. Male students with steady partners were more likely to use condoms than students with casual partners (adjusted OR = 3.11, 95%CI 2.30–4.20). And positive attitudes toward contraceptive responsibility were associated with greater odds of condom use (adjusted OR = 1.40, 95%CI 1.02–1.92). Only 54(6.2%) and 83(9.5%) of respondents reported that free condoms and reproductive health counseling were available at the student health center. Providing free condoms and reproductive health counseling at the student health central were associated with increased condom use among college students (both P<0.05). In addition, students who gained reproductive health information mainly through websites, television and radio programs were more likely to use condoms than through school education (all P<0.05).ConclusionsImproving attitudes of male students toward contraceptive responsibility, providing proper reproductive health information through mass media and making free condoms and reproductive health counseling available in school may help increase condom use among college students in China.
Highlights
Dramatic social changes were seen in China over the past few decades
We proposed a multilevel logistic regression (MLR) model for the binary response in order to considerate that the individual probability of an outcome is dependent on both individual level variables as well as group variables of subjects [22,23,24]
54 (6.2%) and 83 (9.5%) of the male students reported that their school health centers provided condoms and reproductive health counseling for free
Summary
Social and economic development has opened up the attitudes of young Chinese toward sexuality, among college students [1]. Research on sexuality and sexual behavior of college students in China has shown that an increasing number of young people have premarital sex [1,2]. Many studies have shown the males’ important role in reproductive health decision-making, especially among teen populations [4,5,6,7,8]. A better understanding about multi-dimensional inuence on condom use among male students will help inform unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) prevention efforts. Using condoms consistently could prevent unintended pregnancy among young people. This study highlights multiple domains of inuence on condom use among male college students in China, including knowledge, attitudes, health services utility on condom use and reproductive health information sources
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