(064) “Condoms and Sexual Health Practices, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Students”
Authors: Higashi K , Sampath A , Snow G 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sexual wellbeing is a large aspect of college students’ health that continues to be minimally addressed on university campuses. Considering the topic of STIs, it is estimated that people ages 15-24 accounted for almost half of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections that occurred in the United States in 2018 (CDC, 2018). While there is information on condom and contraceptive usage for college students, there is not much data on the usage and beliefs surrounding condoms and sexual health practices. To further explore the sexual health practices at a university, a mixed-method study was conducted by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab during the 2020-21 school year. The study included a survey (n=580) and focus group discussions (n = 16) designed to answer the research questions 1) to what extent are condoms being used by students and 2) what are students’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about condoms and sexual health? Results from the study indicated that while 69% of students engage in sexual activity, sex-based differences are apparent in the desire to use condoms, condoms are only used for vaginal sex, and barrier methods other than external condoms are not being used. Further, conversations prior to sex surrounding STI status and testing are limited. Future interventions are necessary to ensure that current limitations to best safe sex practices are improved through more inclusive sexual education and access to sexual health resources.

Objective

1. Describe the factors that students consider when electing whether to use a condom by examining scenarios in which they are used frequently, which partner uses one, and why these scenarios elicit use. 2. Identify what type(s) of sexual acts condoms are currently being used for within the Cal Poly student population in comparison to guidelines for best sexual health practice by asking directly about patterns of use for penetrative vaginal, penetrative anal, and oral sex. 3. Discuss the ways in which health services at the University can better support the specific needs of Cal Poly students by gauging knowledge and certain perceptions on sexual health behaviors and contraceptive use, ultimately using the data to identify areas in which university services can target informative and preventive campaigns and provide access to relevant resources.

Methods

One-on-one in person or virtual interviews were conducted and asked students about their sexual histories to reveal their experiences using protection, initiating STI status conversations, and circumstances where protection is or is not used. Questions were then asked to evaluate student perceptions of “cleanliness” and clean status conversations. After, the interviews were transcribed via Microsoft Word and NVIVO is being used to code the data. Open coding of the data was first done to create codes and themes of the data and once codes were created, axial coding was done to interpret the data.

Results

Emerging data from the ongoing study reveals some important trends. Perhaps the most notable emerging finding centralizes on the role of trust in influencing a student’s decision to use a condom, engage in an STI status conversation, and ask for proof of status. Many participants also mentioned trust as a key factor. Another emerging finding reveals that students do not share a universal definition of the word “clean”, but instead the semantic value ranges from the physical environment to personal hygiene habits, to STI status. Furthermore, the use of the word “clean” to describe STI status was nor preferred by the general student population as they believe it propagates the stigma surrounding sex and STIs and implies people are dirty.

Conclusions

As we have uncovered, students do seem to have some understanding of safe sex practices. In addition, plenty of free barrier methods like condoms and dental dams are available across campus. Therefore, the issues related to lack of conversation and condom use, and subsequent rising rates of transmission, cannot be attributed to lack of knowledge or resources. Other factors, then, appear to be impeding adherence to sexual health best practices.

Disclosure

Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Clarification: Industry funding only - investigator initiated and executed study.