213754 Determinants and interventions for safer sex behaviors among college students

Monday, November 8, 2010

Amar Kanekar, MPH, CHES, CPH, PhD , Health Studies, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Manoj Sharma, PhD , Health Promotion & Education Program, University of Cincinnati & Walden University, Cincinnati, OH
Background:The HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown to alarming proportions. Consistent and correct usage of condoms along with monogamous relationships are two important aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention. The purpose of this analysis is to present studies addressing the determinants and interventions for safer sex behaviors among college students. Methods: In order to collect materials for this review a detailed search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic search premier, scopus, web of science and social sciences citation index databases was carried out for the time period 1990-2008. A Boolean search strategy was used to retrieve determinant and intervention studies related to safer sex behaviors. Results: A total of 12 studies related to determinants of safer sex behaviors and 9 studies related to interventions for safer sex behaviors were extracted. There are a number of determinats of safer sex behaviors among college students such as alcohol usage, religiosity, perceived social influence, and peer norms Results indicated that there are number of determinants of safer sex behaviors in college students such as alcohol usage, religiosity, condom use barriers such as decreased sexual satisfaction and reduced sexual interest. Conclusions: There was a dearth of intervention literature for safer sex promotion in college students. Information-motivation-behavioral skills model is the most popular model tried among college students to promote safer sex behaviors. Using a theoretical framework is essential to promote increased condom usage and to develop monogamous relationships. Recommendations for conducting interventions which change attitudes and behaviors of college students are elaborated.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the process of literature search to retrieve published peer-reviewed literature on studies concerned with determinants and interventions of safer sex among college students. 2. Discuss the importance and need of intervention research studies in area of safer sex behaviors among college students. 3. Explain the recommendations to conduct intervention studies related to safer sex behaviors among college students in their respective settings.

Keywords: College Students, Sexual Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated in conceptualization, data retrieval, data synthesis, and manuscript preparation related to this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3277.0: Risk 101: College students' health behaviors