STIs in the university population: Confidant choices and motivations for testing

Background – University interventions for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) utilize broad advertising strategies. Strategies based upon student preferences may increase conversation and screening.

Objective – To determine student comfort discussing sex, condoms, and STIs, and motivations for STI information and screening.

Methods – Undergraduate student survey, 2011.

Results – 289 valid surveys, 54.3% male, 51.2% white, mean age 19.4 years. Overall, participants reported their top three confidants for discussing sex and condoms were current partners, close friends, and same-gender physicians. Females reported greater comfort than males in discussing/negotiating condom use (p=0.032), sexual history (p=0.016), and STI testing (p=0.011) with their partners.

Regarding factors leading to seeking STI information (INFO) and agreeing to be screened (SCREENED), more females than males would seek INFO, especially if: partner was unfaithful (89.3% vs 63.1%, respectively; p=0.001), had unprotected sex (80.2% vs 58.0%; p=0.001), a friend was infected (71.0% vs 50.3%; p=0.001). More females would be SCREENED, especially if: test was free (80.2% vs 62.1%, respectively; p=0.004), parents wouldn't find out (73.3% vs 56.2%; p=0.001), one-night-stand (79.2% vs 52.3%; p=0.001), considered part of a healthy lifestyle (71.8% vs 49.7%; p=0.001). Overall, participants would likely agree to test if their partner told them they were infected (95.1%), asked by physician (89.5%), asked by partner (85.3%).

Conclusions – Females were more comfortable discussing sex and condom use, seeking information, and agreeing to be screened. Partner's influence increased these behaviors for everyone. Interventions encouraging sexuality discussions between partners and reducing adverse screening perceptions (cost, anonymity) may be effective.