Sexual behavior and AIDS-related knowledge among community college students in Orange County, California

Whereas college students are not identified as a high-risk group for acquir ing the HIV infection, they exhibit high-risk behaviors consistent with the ir age group, including multiple sexual partners and high rates of unprotec ted intercourse. This study was conducted to determine levels of HIV-relate d sexual behavior, along with knowledge and attitudes among students attend ing community colleges in a relatively affluent multiethnic community. This study used a random sample survey (N = 319) of students attending selected classes at four community colleges in Orange County, California, to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and patterns of past and present sexual beh avior. The level of student knowledge concerning HIV disease was found to b e relatively high, and pronounced differences in knowledge and sexual permi ssiveness were identified as a function of ethnicity and religion, with Asi ans showing lower knowledge and lower concern about HIV and religion/religi osity related to these variables and also to levels of sexual permissivenes s. Respondents' comfort in asking a partner about his/her sexual history wa s positively associated with their level of self-esteem, and negatively rel ated to peer pressure in this population. As in previous studies of college populations, HIV knowledge per se does not confer a protective effect agai nst high-risk behavior. However, knowledge was found to be an enabling fact or with regard to students' comfort levels in asking about their partner's sexual histories, and in requesting that partners take an AIDS test.