Evaluation of an STD-Prevention Program for Swedish University Students

Abstract

The authors evaluated a sexually transmitted disease (STD)-prevention program that combined a mass media campaign with peer education. The program was designed to increase Swedish university students' knowledge about STDs. improve attitudes toward condom use, and tell students where to get an STD checkup. Preintervention and postintervention postal questionnaires were used with an intervention group and two types of control groups. Responses ranged from 32% to 67% for the randomly selected students and from 93% to 99% for classroom and clinic participants. The intervention was noticed by a majority of the students (85–98%) and discussed by 43% to 57%; more women than men observed and discussed the campaign. Knowledge about STDs. where to turn for STD checkups, and the intention of having an STD checkup increased. Attitudes toward condom use were equally positive before and after the intervention. Although it was successful in attracting attention and leading to discussions of STD prevention, the campaign did not encourage students to have an STD checkup.

Key Words:

• quasi-experimental study design
• STD-prevention
• university students

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cecilia Björkelund

Tanja Tydén is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Marie Bergholm is with IMU Testologen, Stockholm; Anders Hallén is with the Department of Dermatology and Venereology and Viveca Odlind and Sven-Eric Olsson are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, all at University Hospital, Uppsala; Per-Olow Sjödén is with the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences and Anders Strand is with the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, at the University of Uppsala; and Cecilia Björkelund is in the Department of Primary Health Care. Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.