Factors Influencing Condom Use and STD Acquisition Among African American College Women

Abstract

To identify factors that influence condom use and the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among African American college women, the authors surveyed a sample of 123 sexually experienced undergraduate women at a state university. The college women who were older, had initiated sex earlier, or had more recent sexual partners were more likely than others in the study to report a history of an STD. The findings have implications for prevention and intervention programs for African American college women.

Key Words:

• African Americans
• prevention
• sexual behaviors
• sexually transmitted diseases
• women

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lisa M. Lewis

Lisa M. Lewis is with the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Richard S. Melton is with the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati, and Paul A. Succop is with the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where Susan L. Rosenthal is with the Department of Pediatrics.