title: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and use of healthcare services among rural migrants: a cross-sectional study in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today's rapid growth of migrant populations has been a major contributor to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. However, relatively few studies have focused on HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice among rural-to-urban migrants in China. This cross-sectional study was to assess HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and perceptions, including knowledge about reducing high-risk sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-phase stratified cluster sampling was applied and 2,753 rural migrants participated in this study. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was conducted in Guangdong and Sichuan provinces in 2007. Descriptive analysis was used to present the essential characteristics of the respondents. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations between identified demographic factors and high-risk sex, sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms, and access to HIV screening services among the seven types of workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  58.6% of participants were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission, but approximately 90% had a negative attitude towards the AIDS patients, and that 6.2% had engaged in high-risk sex in the past 12 months. Logistic regression analysis revealed sex, marital status, income, migration and work experience to be associated with high-risk sex. Among the 13.9% of workers who reported having STD symptoms, risk factors that were identified included female gender, high monthly income, being married, daily laborer or entertainment worker, frequent migration, and length of work experience. Only 3% of migrant workers received voluntary free HIV screening, which was positively associated with monthly income and workplace.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices among rural migrants in China remain a thorny health issue, and use of healthcare services needs to be improved. Low levels of education and knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among housekeepers and migrant day laborers result in this population likely being engaged in high-risk sex. Government programs should pay more attention to public education, health promotion and intervention for the control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Cochran
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Xu
authors: Jay J
authors: JJ
authors: Shen
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Zeng
authors: Yanjun
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Sun
authors: Chengyue
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Xiaohong
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Fengshui
authors: F
authors: Chang
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Lu
authors: Global Epidemic: Global HIV and AIDS estimates, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China. haomo03@fudan.edu.cn.
authors: Mo
authors: M
authors: Hao
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult