Objective: To monitor the trends of risk behaviors promoting sexually transmitted disease/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (STD/AIDS) transmission among general public in order to develop appropriate intervention strategies and to evaluate impact of intervention programs.
Methods: Two hundred subjects were randomly selected and interviewed every other month in Kunming city from 1996 to 1999. STD-AIDS-related information on knowledge, attitudes and behavior were collected during the interview.
Results: The knowledge of STD and AIDS transmission increased from 49.2% to 62.8% (chi 2 = 96.5, P < 0.01) and from 16.6% to 35.2% (chi 2 = 146.5, P < 0.01), respectively. Knowledge on condom use and attitude to AIDS did not change much. Self-reported prevalence of risk behaviors remained low. Residents aged between 15 and 39 had unprotected sex behavior (0.8%-2.5%) and drug use (0.3%-2.4%).
Conclusion: The awareness on STD and AIDS transmission increased gradually. Risk behavior of STD/HIV infection existed among residents aged between 15 and 39 years, which called for intervention programs in the future.