High-risk sexual behavior among students of a minority-serving university in a community with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence

J Am Coll Health. 2008 Jul-Aug;57(1):77-84. doi: 10.3200/JACH.57.1.77-84.

Abstract

Objective: The authors used a stratified cluster sampling design to inform campus sexually transmitted diseases prevention programs.

Participants and methods: They conducted a cross-sectional study of students (N = 1,130) at a large, urban, minority-serving university in South Florida using the 2004 National College Health Assessment Survey instrument.

Results: Of the 1,130 participants, 14.0% reported risky sexual behavior (having more than 1 sexual partner in 1 year and not using a condom the last time they had vaginal intercourse), and 11.9% reported consistent risky sexual behavior (having more than 1 partner in 1 year and not using condoms most or all of the time during the past 30 days). In multivariable analysis, past-month alcohol use had the strongest independent association with both risky and consistent risky sexual behavior. Illicit drug use was marginally significant in both models.

Conclusions: Administrators should address the use of alcohol and other drugs on campus in planning interventions to promote safe sexual behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Risk-Taking*
  • School Health Services
  • Sexual Partners
  • Students / classification
  • Students / psychology*
  • Universities
  • Unsafe Sex / ethnology*
  • Urban Health
  • White People / psychology