Separation between cognition of knowledge and sexual behaviors and influencing factors of PrEP among college students with multiple sexual partners in Nanning

Among the students with one sexual partner, 1,558 (34.7%) experienced separation between cognition of knowledge and sexual behaviors regarding PrEP usage. Among those with 2-3 sexual partners, 201 (35.1%) experienced this separation, and among those with four or more sexual partners, 144 (25.5%) experienced it. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that students identifying as homosexual or bisexual (OR=1.436, 95%CI: 1.150-1.793), those with an HIV testing frequency of less than 6 months (OR=1.423, 95%CI: 1.198-1.691), and those with an HIV testing frequency of more than 6 months (OR=1.386, 95%CI: 1.113-1.725), as well as students unwilling or uncertain about using PrEP (OR=2.322, 95%CI: 2.046-2.635), were significant influencing factors of the separation between cognition of knowledge and sexual behaviors regarding PrEP.Conclusion College students in Nanning with multiple sexual partners exhibit significant separation between cognition of knowledge and sexual behaviors regarding PrEP.

In PrEP education efforts, special attention should be given to homosexuals, HIV testing behavior, and the lack of willingness to use PrEP. It is essential to improve the willingness to use PrEP and facilitate its adoption to reduce the occurrence of this separation.