Correlates of Condom-use Self-efficacy on the EPPM-based Integrated Model among Chinese College Students

Objective To explore the predictors of condom-use self-efficacy in Chinese college students according to the extended parallel process model （EPPM）-based integrated model. Methods A total of 3,082 college students were anonymously surveyed through self-administered questionnaires in Guangzhou and Harbin, China. A structural equation model was applied to assess the integrated model. Results Among the participants, 2,387 （46.7%） were male, 2,586 （53.3%） were female, and the average age was 18.6 years. The final integrated model was acceptable. Apart from the direct effect （r = 0.23）, perceived severity had two indirect effects on condom-use self-efficacy through the attitude to HIV education （r = 0.40） and intention to engage in premarital sex （r = -0.16）, respectively. However, the perceived susceptibility mediated through the intention to engage in premarital sex （intent-to-premarital-sex） had a poor indirect impact on condom-use self-efficacy （total effect was -0.06）. Furthermore, attitude toward HIV health education （r = 0.49） and intent-to-premarital-sex （r = -0.32） had a strong direct effect on condom-use self-efficacy. In addition, male students perceived higher susceptibility, stronger intent-to-premarital-sex, and lower condom-use self-efficacy than female students. Conclusion The integrated model may be used to assess the determinants of condom-use self-efficacy among Chinese college students. Future research should focus on raising the severity perception, HIV-risk-reduction motivation, and the premarital abstinence intention among college students. Furthermore, considering the gender differences observed in the present survey, single-sex HIV education is required in school-based HIV/sex intervention.

Preparation of Porous ZrO_2 and Study on Its Properties

The porous zirconia powder with a high surface area was synthesized by means of the ion exchange method from surfactant CTMAB. The highest surface area of the resulted zirconia reached 340 m 2/g having been calcined at 500 ℃ for 2 h. The influence of preparing conditions on the surface area was investigated. The results show that the amount of the surfactant and the aging time were two main factors affecting the surface area of zirconia. The IR analysis indicated that the large surface area was related to the cations of the surfactant which incorporated into hydrous zirconia by ion exchange.