Sex on Campus : Investigating Sexual Health Promotion in Australian Universities

Abstract

Background: Sexual health is a state of being that goes far beyond the absence of sexually transmissible infections, encompassing the absence of coercion and the possibility of pleasure among other factors. Young Australians in general have been identified as a priority population in terms of sexual health, with a dramatic rise in the rate of notifications of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) among those aged 16 – 30, higher partner numbers, higher rates of sexual assault and less access to sexual health services and information. Besides the fact that many Australians from this age bracket are university students, university environments are important venues for sexual health promotion due to the high proportion of LGBTI and international students. This thesis aimed to determine the current state of sexual health promotion in Australian universities, how these events can better reach different groups of students and whether a peer-led, socially focused event can change attitudes towards sexual health testing. Methods: Interviews were conducted with university peer educators and professionals who had a role related to sexual health in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). These interviews focused on the nature and challenges of the role, previous successful sexual health promotions and ideas for future improvement. Results from these interviews were used to design two anonymous cross-sectional surveys. The Promotion Survey was completed by student leaders in 23 universities across Australia allowing investigation of peer educator roles and current sexual health promotion events. The Student Survey was completed by randomly selected students at a university in the ACT and focused on previous sexual health learning, sexual experiences and preferences relating to sexual health promotion events at university. Results from interviews and surveys were used to inform the design of a peer-led, socially focused sexual health promotion event, Sexy Trivia. This event was run by peer educators at two university organisations, and participants were randomly assigned to either Sexy Trivia, or a sexual health talk from a local sexual health and family planning centre for comparison. Results: Peer educators were often not given sufficient support in their roles, leading to certain groups, such as international and LGBTI students missing out on relevant sexual health promotion opportunities. Students from these groups, along with higher-risk students, showed marked differences in preferences for sexual health promotion events, however common features included the presence of friends as a motivator to attend and low self-perception of risk, even amongst higher-risk students. Sexy Trivia was successful in attracting attendees and was significantly more effective than a sexual health talk at increasing subjective norm scores about sexual health testing. Conclusion: While current university sexual health events include some features that align with student group priorities, elements beyond sexual health information, such as social activity, alcohol incentives and on-site sexual health testing, can be helpful tools to attract students not currently engaged with sexual health messages. This research will help to empower peer educators to more effectively engage different groups of university students and change attitudes towards sexual health. Show more