HIV Vulnerability in Out-of-School Adolescents and Youth in Yunnan, China

Jianghong Li, Lijun Yang, Zhouyang Ren, Chongbin Mo, Dingwen Chen, Fuqiang Dai, Mingzhong Jiang, Zhijie Tang, Peter Jacoby

Criminal Science and Technology Key Laboratory, Yunnan Provincial Police Officers Academy, Kunming, China.
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, The Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, The Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

DOI: 10.4236/wja.2012.22007                

Abstract

This study investigated multiple aspects of vulnerability to HIV in out-of-school adolescents and youth in Yunnan Province, a high HIV risk region in China. The findings show that socially disadvantaged adolescents and youth were overrepresented in the out-of-school young people in Yunnan. The out-of-school young people in Yunnan exhibited 1) limited knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention, 2) a high prevalence of unprotected sexual activity, 3) high exposure to illicit drugs and alcohol use and a high prevalence of drug use in themselves, and 4) limited access to health services. There is an indication of higher exposure to risk behaviours in the younger age group. The study population used multiple media, particularly television, internet and radio, to obtain information about HIV transmission and prevention, particularly in the younger age group. These media may be an effective way of reaching this population in future HIV education and prevention programs in the region.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention; Vulnerability; Out-of-School Adolescents and Youth; Yunnan; China

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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