Comprehensive Sexual Health Educational Learning Modules for College Students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Sexual health education in the U.S. lacks federal regulation, resulting in inconsistent curricula.
• The California State University system does not mandate comprehensive sexual health education for its students.
• At Cal Poly, a significant portion of students engage in risky sexual behaviors, indicated by low condom and barrier method usage rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the identified gaps in sexual health knowledge and practices among California State University students.
• To develop and pilot a comprehensive sexual health educational resource for college students.

Main Methods:

• Development of 10 online, anonymous sexual health educational learning modules.
• Modules cover diverse topics including condom use, STIs, pleasure, porn literacy, and communication skills.
• Content features easy-to-read text and engaging graphics.

Main Results:

• The study identified a critical need for accessible and comprehensive sexual health information within the California State University system.
• A resource was created to supplement existing, often inadequate, sexual health education.
• Preliminary findings highlight low rates of consistent condom and barrier method use among students.

Conclusions:

• The developed online modules offer a scalable solution to improve sexual health education for college students.
• Further research will assess user engagement and the impact of the modules on sexual health practices.
• Addressing sexual health education gaps is crucial for promoting safer sexual behaviors on campus.