East–west disparities in safer sex inside China: a sociocultural perspective

Abstract

Background This study responds to the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancies among Chinese college students from a sociocultural perspective, and investigates the influences of sociocultural factors in shaping sex-related beliefs and acts among Chinese college students. Methods An online survey was conducted on a purposive sample of 1286 female college students in four cities in east and west China. Results Significant east–west disparities have emerged in the rate of sexual intercourse experience, rate of safer sex, conservative sexual values, authority sex education, unofficial sex knowledge access and HIV knowledge. A higher rate of sexual activity, but lower rate of safer sex, were found among the students in the west relative to those in the east. Conclusions This study demonstrates that in a large country, such as China, regional disparities in economy, social development and sexual norms are salient to affect individuals’ sexual behaviours.