Intention to Use Condoms among Students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Background:HIV/AIDS have hit African Americans the hardest both in the United States and in Mississippi. Individuals between the ages 15-24 bear a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Although studies have look at condom use among college students, limited studies are available that have exclusively looked at intent to use condoms among students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine whether sexually active college students between the ages of 18- 24 attending HBCUs have intent to use condoms with their future sexual partners. Methods: A 17 item questionnaire was randomly distributed to 283 students between the ages of 18 -24 attending three HBCUs. Both males and females completed the questionnaire. The instrument was used to collect demographic information as well as the frequency of sexual encounters and intention to use condoms. The outcome measure was the intent to use condom during the next sexual encounter. Simple frequencies and logistic regression were conducted to determine the intention to use condom. Results:Approximately 143 (69.1%) of the students surveyed indicated that they will use condoms/barriers the next time they have sexual encounter as compared to 4 (1.9%)who said no and 21 (10.1%) were undecided. A statistically significant difference was observed between frequency of sexual encounters and the intention to use condoms (p < 0.000). Conclusion: These results suggest that students who are sexually active are more likely to use condoms. Culturally specific evidenced-based interventions promoting condom use should be implemented in HBCUs.