Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109022

Sean Webb¹, Yolanda G. Martinez-Langford, EdPhD, PhD², Larry Williams, MS¹, and Jennifer L. Howell, BS². (1) Office of Minority Health, Orange County Health Deparment, 6101 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, FL 32809, 407-858-1400, sean_webb@doh.state.fl.us, (2) Office of Minority Health, Orange County Health Department, 6101 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, FL 32809

College students today are faced with making many difficult decisions. Some of these decisions are made by students regardless of factual knowledge and such is the case when making choices regarding sexual activities. There are a variety of reasons that place college students at risk for HIV and other STDs among them peer pressure, lack of maturity, drug and alcohol use, etc. Since colleges lack the infrastructure to handle HIV/AIDS, as well as other STD's, it is important that students are provided with an opportunity to receive risk reduction information on a regular basis and on campus. In 2003 the Office of Minority Health at the Orange County Health Department (OMH/OCHD) conducted a survey with college students in four central Florida campuses to identify risk behaviors. Survey findings revealed that 70% of the 752 students interviewed were sexually active. Over half (56%) of the students who reported being sexually active do not use condoms; and 57% have never been tested for HIV. Survey findings were then used to develop a peer-led program called Making Positive Choices. MPC focuses on the integration of HIV prevention and family planning. The program gives Black and Hispanic students a chance to become peer educators. Program objectives are: 1) teach potential peer educators about HIV/ AIDS, STD's and family planning, and 2) allow peer educators to recruit students for screening and counseling. During the six sessions, students not only learn about HIV/AIDS, but more importantly, how to communicate with their peers regarding HIV and AIDS.

Learning Objectives:

(
• Identify risk behaviors among young adults in college campuses. (
• Identify successful elements in the development of collaborative efforts with community colleges (
• Identify essential elements in the development of peer-led HIV prevention educational interventions for college students.

Keywords: College Students, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.