[Sexual behavior, unsafe practices and contraception in students attending Alicante University (Spain)]. / Comportamiento sexual, prácticas de riesgo y anticoncepción en jóvenes universitarios de Alicante.

OBJECTIVE: To identify sexual behavior, contraception, and unsafe practices in students attending Alicante University, as well as to explore gender differences. METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study in Alicante University. Participants consisted of 184 students studying for a Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or for a Degree in Economics in the 2004-2005 academic year. Data on information sources, knowledge and use of family planning centers, and sexual experience were gathered using a self-administered anonymous and confidential questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age was 21.6 years and 140 participants were women. Information sources on sexuality and contraception were related to the students' social and educational environment. The age of beginning coital sexual relations was 17.8 years. The most frequent sexual practices were vaginal coitus and oral sex. Nearly 30% of the students (n = 51) used the postcoital pill. Men started sexual relations earlier and had a greater number of partners than women. The percentage of women who needed to be in love to maintain sexual relations was higher than that in men. A greater percentage of men had had sexual relations under the effect of drugs. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve awareness of responsible sex in the university setting. The gender differences associated with risk behaviors and the use of contraceptive methods, which influence the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, should be taken into account.

Comportamiento sexual, prácticas de riesgo y anticoncepción en jóvenes universitarios de Alicante / Sexual behavior, unsafe practices and contracepction in students attending Alicante University (Spain)

Objetivo. Identificar la conducta sexual, de anticoncepción y prácticas de riesgo en jóvenes universitarios de Alicante, así como explorar diferencias de sexo. Método. Estudio descriptivo y transversal realizado en la Universidad de Alicante. Los participantes fueron 184 alumnos que cursaban sus estudios de la diplomatura de Nutrición Humana y Dietética, y de la licenciatura de Económicas en el curso 2004-2005. Mediante cuestionario autoadministrado de carácter anónimo y confidencial, se obtuvo información relativa a las fuentes de información, conocimiento y uso de los centros de planificación familiar y experiencia sobre relaciones sexuales. Resultados. La edad media fue de 21,6 años, y 140 eran mujeres. Las fuentes de información acerca de sexualidad y anticoncepción estaban relacionadas con su entorno social y educativo. La edad de inicio de las relaciones sexuales coitales fue de 17,8 años. Las prácticas sexuales más frecuentes fueron el coito vaginal y el sexo oral. Cerca del 30% (51) utilizó la píldora poscoital. Los varones habían iniciado antes la relación sexual y habían tenido mayor número de parejas que las mujeres. El porcentaje de mujeres que habían necesitado estar enamoradas para mantener relaciones sexuales fue mayor que en los varones. Los varones habían mantenido relaciones sexuales bajo el efecto de drogas en mayor porcentaje que las mujeres. Conclusiones. Dentro del contexto universitario se deben continuar las actividades formativas hacia una sexualidad responsable, teniendo en cuenta las diferencias de sexo que pueden asociarse a conductas de riesgo e incidiendo en el uso de los métodos anticonceptivos y su relación con la prevención de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual y embarazos no deseados

Objective. To identify sexual behavior, contraception, and unsafe practices in students attending Alicante University, as well as to explore gender differences. Method. We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study in Alicante University. Participants consisted of 184 students studying for a Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or for a Degree in Economics in the 2004-2005 academic year. Data on information sources, knowledge and use of family planning centers, and sexual experience were gathered using a self-administered anonymous and confidential questionnaire. Results. The mean age was 21.6 years and 140 participants were women. Information sources on sexuality and contraception were related to the students' social and educational environment. The age of beginning coital sexual relations was 17.8 years. The most frequent sexual practices were vaginal coitus and oral sex. Nearly 30% of the students (n = 51) used the postcoital pill. Men started sexual relations earlier and had a greater number of partners than women. The percentage of women who needed to be in love to maintain sexual relations was higher than that in men. A greater percentage of men had had sexual relations under the effect of drugs. Conclusions. There is a need to improve awareness of responsible sex in the university setting. The gender differences associated with risk behaviors and the use of contraceptive methods, which influence the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, should be taken into account