1,182
Views
5
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Major Articles

Sexual-risk and STI-testing behaviors of a national sample of non-students, two-year, and four-year college students

, PhD, , PhDORCID Icon, , MPH, , PhDORCID Icon, , MPH, PhDORCID Icon, , MPH, , MPHORCID Icon, , MPH & , PhDORCID Icon show all
Pages 544-551 | Received 27 Aug 2019, Accepted 29 Mar 2020, Published online: 14 May 2020
 

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether sexual-risk and STI-testing behaviors differ by college student status.

Participants

Sexually experienced 17- to 25-year-olds from a 2013 nationally representative panel survey that evaluated the “Get Yourself Tested” campaign. Non-students (n = 628), 2-yr (n = 319), and 4-yr college students (n = 587) were surveyed.

Methods

Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression were used.

Results

Students were less likely than non-students to have had an early sexual debut and to have not used condoms in their most recent relationship. 4-yr students were less likely than non-students to have had multiple sexual partners. 2-yr students were less likely than non-students to have not used contraception in their most recent relationship.

Conclusions

2-yr and 4-yr college students were less likely than non-students to engage in sexual-risk behaviors. Given potentially greater risk for STI acquisition among non-students, identification and implementation of strategies to increase sexual health education and services among this population is needed.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.