ObjectivesThis study explored sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices of female only-child undergraduates and made a comparison with students with siblings.MethodsAnonymously completed questionnaires were received from 4,769 female undergraduates, recruited using randomized cluster sampling by type of university and students' major and grade. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effects of only-child on sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices among female undergraduates.ResultsOf 4,769 female undergraduate students, 41.0% were only-child and 59.0% were students with siblings. Compared with students with siblings, only-child students scored higher on sex-related knowledge, were more inclined to agree with premarital sex, multiple sex partners, one-night stands, extramarital lovers and homosexuality, and were more likely to have a boyfriend and experience sexual intercourse (73.6% vs. 61.4%; 24.0% vs. 14.0%). Only-children were less likely to experience coercion at first sex and have first sexual intercourse with men not their “boyfriends” than children with siblings (3.3% vs. 6.4%; 20.7% vs. 28.8%). There were no significant differences on other risky sexual behaviors (e.g. multiple sex partners and inconsistent condom use) between the only-child students and students with siblings.ConclusionsSexual knowledge, attitudes and some practices of only-child female undergraduates were different from students with siblings. Intervention should be designed according to different requirements of only-children and non-only-children.

With the increasing prevalence of premarital sex among college students in China, our aim was to examine prevalence and determinants of condom use among sexually active female undergraduates at 16 university campuses in Wuhan. Questionnaires were distributed to 5076 unmarried female undergraduates, recruited using randomized cluster sampling by type of university and student major and grade, and anonymously completed questionnaires were received from 4769 (94% of enrollees). The complex samples logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with condom use, yielding odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Of 4769 female students, 863 (18.1%) reported ever having sexual intercourse. Of these, 19.8% used a condom in their first sexual encounter, and these students were more likely to age 20 or older at first intercourse, and less likely to live in countryside during middle school period, and majoring in the arts. Fully 30% of those having intercourse reported never or seldom or sometimes using condoms in the past 12 months. Students using condoms consistently in the past 12 months were more likely majoring in science and technology, to believe that condoms are the safest way to prevent STD and unwanted pregnancy, and to have used a condom at first intercourse; they were less likely to live in countryside during middle school period, and to report multiple sexual partners since initiating sexual behavior. These results suggested that a larger subset of Chinese female undergraduates is engaged in unprotected, premarital sex, and interventions provided for them should stress the importance of delaying sexual initiation, using condoms from the very first sexual encounter, and consistently using condoms after initiating sex.

Female fine arts students hold more tolerant attitudes toward sex than other female students. They were more inclined to risky sexual behaviours, and thus more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy and STIs.