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

Abstract #114600

Scott D. Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES¹, Thomas McCoy, MS², Kenneth C. Hergenrather, PhD, MSEd, MRC, CRC³, Morrow Reeves Omli, MAEd, CSAC⁴, Gail Cohen, MD⁵, Cindy Miller⁴, Heather Champion, PhD⁴, and Robert DuRant, PhD⁶. (1) Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Section on Social Sciences and Health Policy, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, 336/713.5080, srhodes@wfubmc.edu, (2) Biostatistics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, MRI, 3rd Floor, Room 318, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, (3) Department of Counseling/Human and Organizational Studies, The George Washington University, 2134 G Street, NW, #318, Washington, DC 20052, (4) Public Health Sciences/Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, 2nd Floor, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, (5) General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Watlington Hall, 2nd Floor, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, (6) Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157

Background: Over half of all new HIV infections in the US are estimated to occur among people under 25 years old, and the majority are infected sexually. We sought to identify correlates of condom use among unmarried, sexually-active heterosexual college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based assessment was administered to a stratified random sample of 2645 students from 10 college campuses in NC in 2004. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, including Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and one-way ANOVA tests. Correlated logistic regression was performed with dichotomous condom usage as the outcome using generalized linear mixed modeling to adjust for clustering.

Results: Of 2645 responses, 1417 students fit the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 19.6 years (±1.2; range 18-22); 39% were male and 61% were female; 82% self-reported their race/ethnicity as white; 9% as African American/black; 24%, 36%, 22%, and 18% were freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, respectively.

About half reported consistent condom use. Variables associated with condom use included: gender (males>females; P<.01), underclassman classification (P=.03), no history of forced sex (P<.01), less reported cigarette use (P=.03), on-campus residence (P<01), and less spending money (P=.04). Using correlated logistic regression, among the variables associated with condom use were: being male; underclassman classification; not smoking cigarettes; and having less spending money per month.

Conclusions: Half of the students reported not using condoms consistently. Our findings underscore the importance of tailoring intervention strategies to campus subgroups including females; upperclassmen; students who engage in multiple risk behaviors; and students who have more disposable income.

Learning Objectives:

• By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to (a) Describe the sexual risk behaviors of a sample of university students; (b) Identify factors associated with condom use; and (c) Prioritize research gaps and potential intervention approaches.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, 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.