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Seventeen-year review of sexual and contraceptive behavior on a college campus
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96826.
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.