Factors Influencing the Willingness to Use Sexual Protection Measures among University Students in the Border Regions of Yunnan

Objective: This study explored the correlation between HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use intention, and their influencing factors, among 923 freshmen at a Yunnan border university, to provide targeted recommendations for local HIV prevention and sexual health education. Methods: Using cluster sampling, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among 923 college students at a university in a border region from November 2024 to February 2025. R 4.3.0 software was employed to perform chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The HIV awareness rate among college students at a university in a frontier region was 65.87%, while the rate of unwillingness to use condoms was 33.15%. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in condom usage willingness based on factors including gender, HIV knowledge awareness, proactive acquisition of HIV knowledge, receipt of HIV education, freshman status, and history of same-sex intercourse. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates that female gender (OR = 3.85, 95%CI: 2.881 - 5.156) and knowledge of AIDS (OR = 28.18, 95%CI: 19.498~40.722) are positively associated with condom use; lack of proactive HIV/AIDS knowledge acquisition (OR = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.040 - 0.124) and not having received AIDS health education (OR = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.032 - 0.117) were negatively associated factors for condom use. Conclusion: The awareness rate of AIDS among college students in borderland universities is relatively low, and multiple factors influence the willingness to use condoms. It is necessary to strengthen the dissemination of AIDS-related knowledge and sexual health education, with particular attention paid to male students and populations with limited awareness.