Objective To evaluate the outcomes of peer education used in health education on AIDS/safe sex among college students

so as to provide scientific evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of peer education when used in sex and reproductive health education for college students.Methods A total of 120 college students who attended the optional course of " Peer Education on Puberty Health"（the study group）were matched with another 120 students who did not attend the course（the control group）.Students in the study group received 4 months of health education on AIDS/safe sex.For all students

aquestionnaire survey was conducted both before and after education.Results Before education

the awareness rate of AIDS-related general knowledge was low in both groups

and no significant difference was observed for each item between the two groups（P>0.05）.After education

the awareness rate of AIDS-related general knowledge was significantly increased in the study group compared with that before education（P<0.05）.Before education

more than 90% of students in both groups were aware that "the main routes of transmission of AIDS include sexual contact

blood transmission

and mother to child transmission"

" one may get infected after receipt of HIVcontaminated blood" and three other items;and no significant intra-or inter-group differences were noted after education（P>0.05）.Before education

students from both groups had similar attitudes towards HIV carriers and AIDS patients as well as similar sexual behaviors（P>0.05）.After education

up to 76.7% of students in the study group were willing to contact with HIV carriers and AIDS patients

which was significantly higher when compared with that before education in the same group or that after education in the control group（P<0.05）.After education

significantly fewer students in the study group supported multiple sexual partners and one night stand

while significantly more students supported the use of condoms during sex（P<0.05）.Conclusion When delivering health education on AIDS/safe sex among college students

peer education can be considered as a feasible and effective mode.