Influence of HIV/AIDS knowledge on HIV testing behavior among young students (14-27 years) with a history of sexual activity: chain mediation analysis of social discrimination, self-efficacy, and sexual behavior characteristics.

This study used a self-administered questionnaire to investigate the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge, social discrimination, HIV self-efficacy, sexual behavioral characteristics and HIV testing behavior among young students with a history of sexual activity in Chongqing. Propensity score matching was used to construct a control group with similar demographic characteristics to the HIV testing group, only without HIV testing behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to conduct chain-mediated effect analysis. The HIV testing rate among young students with a history of sexual behavior was 17.16%. Young students with HIV testing behavior had higher levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, lower social discrimination, better self-efficacy, and no difference in sexual behavior characteristic scores between the two groups (P = 0.062). The mediated effect values of social discrimination and self-efficacy were 0.022 and 0.063, respectively, while their chain mediated effect value was 0.007. There was no mediated effect of sexual behavior characteristics. The level of young students' HIV/AIDS knowledge does not directly influence their HIV testing behavior but plays a complete chain mediating effect on HIV testing behavior through social discrimination and self-efficacy. HIV testing behavior should be promoted through the perspectives of enhancing HIV/AIDS knowledge level, reducing social discrimination, and improving self-efficacy.