HIV Testing in Recent College Students: Prevalence and Correlates

Abstract

Prevalence and correlates of HIV testing were examined in a sample of 957 unmarried recent college students in the U.S. 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.

The Adolescent and Young Adult HIV Cascade of Care in the United States: Exaggerated Health Disparities

“…18 Demographic factors suggest that among adolescents and young adults, HIV testing is higher among females, 18,19 African American, 7,8,[18][19][20][21][22][23] and Latino/a 19,20,24 youth. Sexual factors associated with increased HIV testing among youth include having three or more sexual partners in the last three months, 21 ever having a sexually transmitted infection (STI), 21,25 inconsistent condom use, 21 substance use, 21 being a MSM or a female who had sex with a MSM, 7,8,19,[21][22][23][24] or having had sex with an HIV-infected partner. 21 Healthcarerelated factors associated with increased HIV testing among youth include those receiving Medicaid with a primary care physician who were recommended testing 20 or had any healthcare in the past year.…”

‘But You Looked Smart’: Participant Observations of HIV Testing and Counseling for Young Adults

“…Although many practitioners argue young adults are 'low risk', health communication scholars continue to find that due to the typical behavior of college students and the over all lack of concern for HIV this population are in fact putting themselves at greater than average risk for HIV infection (Apostolopoulos, Svanmez, & Yu, 2002, Belgrave, 2009, Caldeira, Singer, O'Grady, Vincent & Arria 2012, Downing-Matibag, & Geisinger, 2009). While young adults may not be exhibiting as high numbers as MSM and IDU (injection drug users); they are indeed engaging in behaviors putting them at risk for HIV and should be receiving the same testing and counseling as other groups.…”

Inclusion of a broader range of sexual orientations to strengthen the validity and generalizability of findings

“…1 Prior to the study by Cragg et al, there have been limited data for this demographic. Other studies have investigated HIV testing in college students 4 but not bacterial STI testing in Canada. It was evident from the investigation that PHAC recommendations are currently not being met in this demographic, as 66% of heterosexual maritime university students had never been tested for STI.…”