User talk:STIcollegestudents

Statistics
The most common STI among college students are human papilomavirus (HPV), trichomoniasis, and Chlamydia (Weinstock, Berman, Cates, jr. 2004). These three STI have caused health concerns among college students. A study done by Sandra Caron stated “80% of those who had engaged in sexual intercourse since arriving at college reported using a condom”. In addition she found, “only 20.7% of students who had ever engaged in sexual intercourse reported using a condom every time”. The percentage of males using condom the last time engaged in sexual intercourse was 39.2% (American College Health Association, 2005). According to the American College Health Association: As a failure of not using condoms Chlamydia and gonorrhea are reaching epidemic numbers among some adolescent populations (Ross, 2002). Educating is critical along with abstinence and condom use to reduce STI rates in America.
 * 53.3% used condom during Vaginal intercourse
 * 3.7% used condom during oral sex
 * 28.3% used condom during Anal sex

Social Aspects
Many college students may fear the words sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Students are likely to avoid the subject and not think that it will happen to them. If a college student is infected and the longer they delay seeking diagnosis and treatment, it increases the risk of spreading the infection to others. A lot of students “delay seeking care when symptoms are present and not seeking screening when symptoms are absent.”(Barth 2002) Students commonly delay or reject STI testing because they are afraid of being judged and they worry about what other people would think of them. They are worried that people will view them as ‘“loose”, “dirty”, “stupid”, “irresponsible”, and “not caring about yourself”’ (Barth). Some people would not get screened based on their fear of how their future will be affected. Students fear that a rumor may get spread at their school because they were seen at Planned Parenthood, or at the schools health center. Students tend to try to characterize people with STI’s by that person’s sexual experiences and their reputation. Students also tend to view STI as not being a very serious thing, “especially when compared with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS.” (Barth 155). When someone seeks treatment it might make that person feel scared, guilty, or maybe in fear and worry of what others might view him/her.

Gender
College students tend to think that women are judged more for being infected with STI compared to men. Students seem to have a different reaction when it’s a man who is infected. Their friends may say something like “So what, dude you taped that! Who cares you got harpies!” If a women were to get diagnosed with an STI and others found out people might criticize her and not want anything to do with her. It may make it hard for her to have future relationships. People may view her as a slut or dirty. This situation can add to a person’s reasoning for not getting screened. (Barth 2002)

Relationships
More than one third of sexually active college students avoided telling their partners about previous sexual partners. (Health Source, 2001) It is important for people to tell their partner about their past sexual partners and they should get tested. The couple can go together and get tested at the same time if they wanted to. They could be each other’s support. About a quarter of sexually active students intentionally lie to their partners about the number of people they were with sexually. College students may not know that “disclosing their sexual history is a safe-sex practice.”(Health Source, 2001) Each additional sexual partner puts an individual at an increased risk of exposure to sexually transmitted disease.

Services for Students
College students’ are currently facing challenges in sexual behaviors that are placing each student at risk for a variety of health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections. With the increasing rate of STI among college campuses, health education and health promotion programs on college campuses are an important necessity for students to have access and education at all times. After reading many articles about services at college campuses, the main issue is how to give students a positive direction on how to lower the risk of STI. With a current study done by koumans et al, “Ninety-one percent of schools used at least one method. Most schools used flyers and posters, and two-thirds use lectures, health fairs, one-on-one, or peer education. The use of some form of written material for STD education was very common, with 85% of all schools using at least one form of written media, such as a flyer, poster, newsletter, written orientation material, or the school Web site; however, less than one third of schools provided information regarding STD’s at school orientation.”(213-214). In the United States many students, “received some health information from their college or university. However the overall number of students reached, the coverage among subgroups, and the number of health topics covered should be increased.”(Brener,226-27). Many college campuses need to stress the issue of what types of services they offer and how easy are they are to access. Many students aren’t aware with the fact that most colleges have many programs to help educate students on prevention and awareness. According to koumans et al, “Comprehensive and effective sexual health education is critical for all students acquiring postsecondary education. Strategies are needed (1) to increase prevention services at colleges that do not have a health center and (2) to improve STI services at schools that have a health center.”(217)