259600 Initiation of sexual practices in college students and the modes of protection

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Nancy Moore, MPH, CPH , Department: Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Rachel Powell, MPH, CHES, CPH , Department: Health Promotion & Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Christina Proctor, MPH , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, Project Merits III, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Jessie A. Barnett, MPH , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Jessica L. Muilenburg, PhD , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Research has linked the increase in the incidence of oropharangeal cancer with the spread of HPV. Although HPV is the most common STI, students are less likely to use protection when engaging in sexual activities. The purpose of this study is to compare the times of initiation for oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex, as well as, compare the measures used for protection. We surveyed 368 college students at a Southeastern university using an anonymous questionnaire related to sexual behaviors. The majority of the participants were female (75.0%) and white (80.9%). Of those who have had sexual intercourse, 40.5% initiated oral sex within a month; 22.9% initiated vaginal sex within a month; and 8.9% initiated anal sex within a month. Although some protection is being used, there is virtually no protection being used with oral sex. Of those students engaging in oral sex, 95% reported never wearing a dental dam or condom when receiving oral sex; and 88.8% reported never using a dental dam or condom when giving oral sex. Due to the increase in the amount of cases of oropharangeal cancer, further research needs to be conducted targeting the barriers preventing students from using condoms. Furthermore, social norms and student perceptions of severity and susceptibility need to be identified, and interventions must be designed focusing on educating students of the risks associated with engaging in unprotected oral sex.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objectives: 1. Compare the timing of initiation among oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex. 2. Discuss implications for not using protection and how interventions need to be tailored toward using dental dams and condoms during oral sex.

Keywords: College Students, Oral/Anal Sex

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student working under a faculty member studying the sexual behaviors of college students.
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.

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