Objective  To investigate the status of knowledge and high-risk behaviors about human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among rural migrant workers in Liaoning province and to provide evidences for performing targeted education program on HIV/AIDS prevention.

  Methods  We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey among 4 008 rural migrant workers at 72 construction sites selected with random cluster sampling in 36 counties or districts of 4 municipalities of Liaoning province during September 2015.

  Results  Among the participants, the average overall score for knowledge about HIV/AIDS was 8.57 ± 2.84. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the participants with higher education were more likely to have high HIV/AIDS-related knowledge score (junior high school: β = 0.83, 95 % confidence interval 95% CI: 0.58 – 1.09, P < 0.01; senior high school or above: β = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.97 – 1.69, P < 0.01) compared to those with the education of primary school or lower; the participants acquiring HIV/AIDS-related knowledge through reading propaganda posters or from friends were also more likely to have a high knowledge score (reading propaganda posters: β = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.63 – 1.15, P < =0.01; from friends: β = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.60, P = 0.04) compared to those acquiring the knowledge via television, radio, and newspapers. There were 7.3% (253/3 489) of the participants reporting money or goods paid sex behaviors and 3.5% (123/3 489) reporting sex behaviors for money or goods. Among the participants, 25.2% reported having premarital sex and 10.8% reported the experience of one-night stand; the participants’ experiences of premarital sex and one-night stand differed by age, and years of migrant working significantly (P < 0.05 for all). Of the participants, 6.9%, 2.1%, and 1.3% reported the experience of paid blood donation (blood selling) , suffering from sexually transmitted disease, and drug abuse and of the participants reporting the three experiences, 55.6%, 24.7%, and 57.7% had the consultation or test for HIV/AIDS, respectively.

  Conclusion  Among rural migrant workers in Liaoning province, the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS prevention and control is low and the rate is mainly influenced by education and routes of acquiring relevant knowledge; the high HIV/AIDS risk behaviors as premarital sex, one-night stand, drug abuse, and paid blood donation also exist in the occupational population.