Exploring Characteristics of Condom Use among a College Population

The increasing lack of condom use puts young people at risk for a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), which can lead to long term health consequences. This study was administered within Kern County, California. Kern County ranked second worst in California for chlamydia, and fourth worst for primary and secondary syphilis (California Department of Public Health, 2018). The study used archival data from Bakersfield College, which administered the American College Health Care Administrations (ACHA) survey as a need assessments and to drive health education plans. Bakersfield College students (N=1,483) completed the survey of which 36 questions pertained to sexual behavior and condom use. ACHA revealed that aggregated 88% of students (n=1,067) do not regularly or ever use condoms during oral sex. Similarly, 63% students (n=1,084) indicated they do not regularly or ever use condoms during vaginal sex. The study used SPSS analytics to explore condom use and characteristics (i.e, STI information received, sexual behavior, relationships, and/or race). Chi-Square results showed there was no statistically significant difference in condom use in vaginal sex between those who received information on STIs compared to those who did not receive information. However, there was statistically significant difference in condom use for those who reported condom use during anal sex in the last 30 days and received information about STIs, χ2(1) = 4.984, p = .026. The study findings will be used to better inform health education campaigns to promote condom use among the college age population