HIV testing in recent college students: prevalence and correlates

AIDS Educ Prev. 2012 Aug;24(4):363-76. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2012.24.4.363.

Abstract

Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing were examined in a sample of 957 unmarried recent college students in the United States. Participants were asked about HIV testing, past-six-months sexual activities, lifetime treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI), past-year health service utilization, and DSM-IV criteria for alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependence during the 2008-2009 academic year. Two in five (41.9%(wt)) were ever tested for HIV. Holding constant demographics, HIV testing was positively related to AOD dependence, frequency of unprotected sex, number of sex partners, having a physical exam by a medical professional, number of visits to a health provider for physical health problems, and lifetime STI treatment. Women were more likely than men to be tested for HIV despite similar levels of risky sex. Results demonstrate the feasibility of achieving high HIV testing rates in a college population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Sex Factors
  • Students / psychology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Unsafe Sex*
  • Young Adult