Evaluation of an STD-prevention program for Swedish university students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) pose a significant health risk among university student populations.
• Effective STD prevention strategies require tailored approaches to reach young adults.
• Previous interventions have shown mixed results in changing health behaviors related to STDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined mass media and peer education program for STD prevention.
• To assess the program's impact on knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors regarding STDs and condom use.
• To determine if the intervention increased uptake of STD checkups among university students.

Main Methods:

• A pre- and post-intervention postal questionnaire design was employed.
• An intervention group received the combined mass media and peer education program.
• Two control groups were used for comparison, with response rates varying by group.
• Data collection involved randomly selected students, classroom participants, and clinic attendees.

Main Results:

• The intervention was widely noticed (85-98%) and discussed (43-57%), with higher engagement among women.
• Significant increases were observed in STD knowledge and awareness of where to obtain STD checkups.
• Student intentions to have an STD checkup also increased post-intervention.
• Attitudes toward condom use remained consistently positive, showing no significant change due to the intervention.

Conclusions:

• The STD prevention program successfully increased awareness and knowledge among university students.
• Despite increased intention, the campaign did not translate into a higher number of students seeking STD checkups.
• Combined media and peer education can be effective for raising awareness but may require further strategies to drive health-seeking behaviors.