Sexual behaviors and safer sex practices of college students on a commuter campus
Prince, A.; Bernard, A.L.
Journal of American College Health J of Ach 47(1): 11-21
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0744-8481 PMID: 9693475 DOI: 10.1080/07448489809595614Document Number: 281482
Sexual behaviours and safer sex practices of college students at a midwestern commuter university are described. Responses from a student sample of 1919 indicated that slightly more than 10% used condoms consistently. The most frequently cited reasons for not using condoms were monogamy (83%) and preferring other forms of birth control (31%). The leading reason for consistent condom use was fear of HIV infection (72%). Approximately 75% indicated they talked with their sexual partners about HIV prevention; women reported communicating significantly more often than men did (P < 0.0001). 70% of the sample reported they had only one sexual partner during the past year. Students who had multiple partners during the past year were more likely to practise such unsafe sexual practices as not using condoms and not communicating about HIV prevention. Unsafe sexual practices occur on nontraditional university campuses just as frequently as they do on more traditional campuses, thus supporting the need for HIV prevention programmes on every college and university campus. The age range of this population was 18 to 57.