Condom use among unmarried students in a Hispanic-serving university

AIDS Educ Prev. 2007 Oct;19(5):448-61. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2007.19.5.448.

Abstract

This study compares the prevalence of risky sexual behavior between unmarried Hispanic and non-Hispanic students in southern Florida and assesses the role of substance use in risky sexual behavior. Among 815 unmarried respondents, approximately 35% had two or more sexual partners within the past 12 months. Compared with non-Hispanic White students, Hispanic students were less likely to engage in unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol (25% vs. 16%) but also less likely to have been tested for HIV infection (55% vs. 43%). The percentage of students using a condom during their last sexual encounter was 8% (oral), 35% (anal), and 50% (vaginal). For both Hispanic and non-Hispanic students, condom use was low regardless of smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and marijuana use. From the problem behavior theory perspective, condom use and substance use may have different behavioral origins. These findings can help target and guide the development of prevention programs in university settings.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / ethnology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / ethnology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Health Surveys
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / ethnology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control
  • Single Person / classification
  • Single Person / psychology
  • Students / classification
  • Students / psychology
  • Universities / statistics & numerical data
  • Unsafe Sex / ethnology*
  • Unsafe Sex / psychology
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data