title: Premarital sexual activities among students in a university in Beijing, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming a serious public health problem in China. College students are recognized as one of the age groups most affected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to investigate premarital sexual activities and condom use among college students in Beijing in order to collect the information necessary for research on interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 1999 among students at a university in Beijing. A self-administered, anonymous, structured questionnaire was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those interviewed, 41% reported premarital sexual activities: 28% had kissed partners of the opposite sex, 19% had masturbated, and 12% had engaged in sexual intercourse. Among those who had sexual intercourse, 69% had used condoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Today, more students are engaging in premarital sexual intercourse. Thus, it is necessary to reinforce reproductive health education among college students and provide convenient and optional services that are easily accessed.
authors.affiliation: Center of Social Research, National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China. zhangly@public.bta.net.cn
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zhaowen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Zhenglai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities