Seventeen-year review of sexual and contraceptive behavior on a college campus

Abstract

Objectives: We reviewed current sexual and contraceptive behavior of college-age men and women and compared the findings with those of similar studies in 1974 and 1979.

Study design: A randomly selected population questionnaire was provided to students registered in the spring 1991 semester. Of the 1921 survey forms mailed, 772 (40.2%) were returned. The CHIFIT test was used to determine representativeness of sample population to target population.

Results: Proportionately more women than men responded, although the age grouping and academic standing were consistent with the university population. Of the 772 responses, 84.2% were sexually active with a mean age at onset of 17.8 years. Half (50.3%) always used contraception with oral contraceptives as the first choice and condoms second. Sexually transmitted diseases were reported by 19.1%. More than one fourth (27.8%) had been tested for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Fifteen percent (15.1%) reported being forced to have sex, and 50% of these incidents had occurred before age 19.

Conclusions: On a comparison with findings in 1974 and 1979, more students had participated in sexual activity beginning at a younger age with slightly less use of contraception.

PIP: In 1991, 772 male and female students at the University of Hawaii returned a questionnaire as part of a follow-up study to 1974 and 1979 surveys to examine their current sexual and contraceptive behavior and to compare this behavior with that in 1974 and 1979. Men were less likely to respond to the questionnaire than women (32 vs. 45.4%). 84.3% engaged in sexual activity compared to 69.55% in 1974. Mean age at first intercourse was 17.8 years. 66% of the students surveyed in 1991 experienced first intercourse before age 19, as compared to 44% in 1974 and 54% in 1979. Oral contraceptives (OCs) were the leading contraceptive method for 1974, 1979, and 1991 among all students (34.8, 32.6, and 30%, respectively). Condoms were the second most popular method for 1974 and 1991 and their use increased (18 and 28.4%, respectively). More students in 1991 either did not use any contraception or relied on withdrawal during first sexual intercourse than students in 1974 (43.9 vs. 40.9%). The main reasons for not using contraception included preference (21.7%), embarrassed (10.7%), and "feel prepared" (10.1%). 63.5% of students had just one sexual partner in the past year. 15.2% of women and 23.8% of men had more than 10 sexual partners. More women than men had been raped (21.6 vs. 13.3%). Most rapes in women were committed by someone they knew (e.g., partner, date, or relative). Just 3.3% of women who had suffered from rape were violated by a stranger. Almost 50% of students asked their partners about their sexual history before engaging in sexual intercourse. 10.7% of women and 7% of men asked their partner to be tested for HIV. Yet, neither request for sexual history nor HIV testing was associated with HIV/AIDS and condom use. 21% of women and 16% of men had a sexually transmitted disease (STD). 22% of women and 36% of men had been tested for HIV antibodies. 2 men were HIV positive. These findings showed that knowledge about STDs and HIV/AIDS did not significantly change sexual behavior, especially behavior leading up to first intercourse.