Sexual and reproductive health behaviors of California community college students.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sexual and reproductive health behaviors of students from 13 community college campuses in California. PARTICIPANTS: Heterosexual college students, ages 18 to 24, who have had sexual intercourse (N = 4,487). METHODS: The American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) survey was administered in class to randomly selected classrooms at 12 institutions and electronically to randomly selected e-mails of students at 1 institution from March through April 2007. RESULTS: This sample of community college students reported higher rates of risky sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancy, emergency contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases, and lower rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, than the overall ACHA-NCHA reference group. Those who had been tested for HIV reported more sexual partners, and lower rates of condom use. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide justification for broader educational programs and access to family planning services, condoms, and HIV testing on community college campuses.

Provision of emergency contraception at student health centers in California community colleges.

BACKGROUND: Approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, with the highest rates reported among college-age women. The availability of emergency contraception (EC) pills can be an important component of efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy. Student health centers at community colleges can uniquely support student retention and academic achievement among college students by making EC available to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and prevent college drop-out. This article highlights findings from an assessment of EC provision in student health centers within the California community college system (n = 73). METHODS: A web-based survey was used to explore the provision of EC, challenges and barriers of EC administration, promotion of EC availability, and attitudes toward EC. FINDINGS: Descriptive statistics conducted revealed that more than 6 out of 10 (62%) student health centers provided EC, 77% of which dispense EC on site during clinic visits. The most common EC promotion methods were providing brochures at the health center (80%) and through information provided at family planning or primary care visits (73%). Challenges to EC administration included a perceived lack of awareness of EC among students (71%), followed by the notion that some students may overutilize EC (40%). Attitudes toward EC provision were more favorable among health center staff whose campuses offered EC than those who did not (p < .05). CONCLUSION: This article provides recommendations for community college health centers to improve access and delivery of EC by addressing issues such as cost and offering more novel EC promotion methods.

Partner communication and HIV testing among US Chinese college students.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of partner communication and relationship status on HIV testing among Chinese/Chinese American college students in northern California. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional study design to conduct focus groups and an online or paper-pencil questionnaire (N = 230). RESULTS: The majority (60%) of respondents were in committed partnerships, with 21% in casual partnerships. Less than one third (30%) of respondents had ever obtained an HIV test. History of HIV tested was associated with relationship status and partner communication. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to increase partner communication skills while taking into account sociocultural factors among this population and their partners are needed.