AEGiS-06IAC: Sexual behaviors and behavioral changes among high risk college students.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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Sexual behaviors and behavioral changes among high risk college students.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:341 (abstract no. Th.D.863)
Kotloff K, Wasserman S, Tacket C, Cowan J, Bridwell M, Quinn T; University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

OBJECTIVE: To describe the variables associated with AIDS risk behaviors among a cohort of high risk college students.

METHODS: In 1988 we conducted a voluntary serosurvey of 3394 undergraduate students attending the University of Maryland at College Park. Subjects donated a blood specimen for HIV-1 antibody testing and completed a risk assessment questionnaire. Characteristics of the 297 students belonging to high risk groups (8.8% of the total) are described.

RESULTS: The mean age was 22.6 +/-3.6 years; 65% were men, 83% caucasian, 7% black, and 9% Hispanic. Two students were HIV-infected (0.7%). Risk categories included male homosexuality/bisexuality (26%), IV drug use (15%) and high risk sexual partners (IV drug users, homosexual/bisexual men, female prostitutes, or HIV-infected persons) (89%). A history of a STD (syphilis, gonorrhea, venereal warts, herpes, or chlamydia) was reported by 25%, and was associated with the number of lifetime sexual partners in men (p less than .001) and anal intercourse and intercourse with an IV drug user in women (p less than or equal to .02). Thirty percent had never used condoms, including 23% of those reporting previous STD, 26% of those with greater than 5 lifetime sexual partners, and 29% of those reporting high risk sexual partners. Only 55% of the group reported that they had increased their condom use as a result of their knowledge about AIDS.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that high risk college students should be targeted for programs which promote condom use and other interventions aimed at reducing transmission of HIV-1 and other STD.

Keywords: AEGIS, Students, Sexual Partners, Condoms, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Risk-Taking, Bisexuality, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV-1, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Homosexuality, Male, HIV Antibodies, Homosexuality, Maryland, Adult, Human, Male, Female, ICA6

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ThD863

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.