*(S.Fil., M., MHID), Lecture at School of Nursing, Belu, Atambua, Indonesia
**(MD, MCN, PhD, FAFPHM), Public Health Physician and a Course Coordinator for the Master of Health and International, Development, Discipline of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Online published on 19 August, 2014.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the individual and contextual risk factors for HIV infection among high school, college and university students in China.
A systematic search of English language literature was conducted, covering the period between 2003 and 2013. The following databases were searched: Medline, PubMed, Proquest, Google Scholar and Google. Different key terms were used, either in combination and/or as standalone. Manual searches were conducted to identify grey literature, and references to the selected articles were scrutinised to acquire additional referential literature. Because of the limited number of articles, a narrative review, including content analyses, was conducted to identify themes emerging from the literature.
The identified individual risk factors for the acquisition of HIV infection among students in China are high-risk sexual behaviours, including an early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sexual encounters. Lack of knowledge about HIV transmission, low condom use, and having a history of sexually transmitted infections, have increased susceptibility to infections among students. Meanwhile, the contextual risk factors for the infection encompass socio-environmental influences, including clash of norms and views, and social relation among students. Exposure to pornographic material and videos, excessive alcohol consumption, and substance usage, are also influencing factors for students’ involvement in high-risk sexual encounters. Lastly, socioeconomic conditions have significant influence on students’ engagement in commercialised sex, leading to their exposure to HIV infection.
HIV risk factors amongst students in China are complex. More research to address other risk factors among diverse high school, college and university settings in different contexts across China is necessary. Recognition of these factors is imperative in order to effectively address the HIV epidemic occurring amongst this population group in China, as well as in other countries.
China, HIV infection, risk factors, high school, college and university students
