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

Abstract #112742

Brian Dodge, PhD, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Public Health Programs, 101 S Newell Drive, HPNP Room 4179, Gainesville, FL 32610, 352-273-6086, bdodge@phhp.ufl.edu, Theo Sandfort, PhD, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY 10032, William L. Yarber, HSD, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER 116, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, and John De Wit, PhD, Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Martinus J. Langeveldgebouw, Heidelberglaan 1, E 258, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands.

Background: Recent epidemiological data highlight significant differences in unintended pregnancies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI), and induced abortions between young adults in the United States and the Netherlands. Social scientists have suggested that lower rates of adverse sexual health outcomes are related to a more positive attitudes toward sexuality in Western European nations. However, few studies have directly tested the role of socio-cultural factors in relation to sexual health outcomes. Methods: We assessed differences in sexual health behaviors, outcomes, and potential socio-cultural determinants among heterosexually-active male college students in the United States and the Netherlands. Survey data were collected from random samples of students from both national cultures (N= 369). Findings: American men were more likely to report inadequate contraception, HIV/STI, and unintentionally impregnating a partner than Dutch men. In multivariate analyses, sexuality education and religiosity were able to explain national differences in these sexual health outcomes. National culture disappeared as a predictor variable. Conclusions: Results suggest that sexuality education seems to decrease, rather than increase, sexual risk in male college students reporting recent sexual activity with female partners. The disparities in sexual health outcomes between our samples suggest that national cultures such the Netherlands may have a great deal to offer in terms of their pragmatic and successful approaches to sexual health.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion, partiucipants in this session may

• review significant differences in sexual health outcomes (HIV/STI and unintended pregnancy) between young adults in the United States and the Netherlands.
• learn that, although social scientists have hypothesized relationships, few studies have tested the role of socio-cultural factors in relation to sexual health outcomes between the United States and the Netherlands.
• find that participants from the United States were more likely than those in the Netherlands to report negative sexual health outcomes and that sexuality education and religiosity were able to explain differences in adverse sexual health outcomes in these two national cultures.
• affirm the significance of sexuality education to public health as findings from this study suggest that sexuality education seems to decrease, rather than increase, sexual risk in male college students reporting recent sexual activity with female partners.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, International Public Health

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.

Recorded presentation