My name is Mindy Einhorn. I am a senior Elementary Education and Psychology major at The College of New Jersey. My career goal is to work with children.
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SUMMARY:

College is a time of experimentation and learning. Adolescents are learning about themselves and the world around them. Sexual activity is also involved in this experimentation.

Unfortunately, this is not just a time to worry about pregnancy and STD's, but also a time to worry about sexual transmission of HIV. Considering all of the statistics about HIV Disease/AIDS, do college students perceive themselves to be at risk for sexual transmission of HIV, and if so, are they adequately protecting themselves?

The overall rate of infection for college students is an astounding average of two per every 1,000 students (Stine, 1999). This rate is ten times higher than the general heterosexual population (Stine, 1999).

In 1987 Americans were buying 800,000 condoms a day (Breitman et al., 1987). That was more than ten years ago. Condoms are now available in vending machines! Does this increase usage? On a commuter campus, out of 222 men 44.5% never used a condom, and out of 384 women 54.2% never used a condom (Prince & Bernard, 1998).

One study of college students suggests that, "students who are more likely to intend to use condoms have more positive attitudes toward behavior that could reduce risk of contracting HIV and higher perceived risk for HIV infection" (Serovich & Greene, 1997).

Some reasons for college students failing to use condoms include being in a
monogamous relationship, followed by preference for other forms of birth control (Prince & Bernard, 1998). Reasons for using a condom 100% of the time include not wanting to risk getting HIV, followed by knowing that HIV can be present without signs or symptoms (Prince & Bernard, 1998).

Condoms are known to help reduce the risk of being infected with HIV yet study after study tells us that college students are not consistent with condom usage. The rate of HIV infection among college students attests to this lack of consistent usage.

HIV/AIDS is the third leading cause of death among all women age 25 to 44 in the U.S., as well as the leading cause of death for African American women in this age group (Stine, 1999). This means that these women were infected before being in this age range. College age women should be concerned.

Common risk taking behavior found in adolescents leads many to believe they are invincible, "It won't happen to me" being a common misconception. HIV/AIDS fits into this category as well, despite knowledge and education about HIV transmission.

FACTOIDS:

AIDS is the third leading cause of death in women between the ages of 25 to 44. AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women between the ages of 25 to 44 (Stine, 1999).

Two per every 1,000 college students is infected with HIV. A rate 10 times higher than the rate of HIV in the general heterosexual population (Stine, 1999).

In 1987 Americans bought 800,000 condoms a day (Breitman et al., 1987)!

The highest risk of sexual transmission is through anal intercourse with internal ejaculation without a condom (Stine, 1999).

It is possible to be infected with HIV after just one sexual encounter.
The World Health Organization stated that 75% of worldwide HIV transmission occurred heterosexually (WHO, 1997).

Condoms, when used correctly, can reduce the risk of HIV transmission (CDC, 1997).

In 1997 people newly reported to be infected with HIV totaled 5.8 million (WHO, 1997).

Since the beginning of this epidemic, the total number of AIDS deaths is 11.7 million (as of the end of 1997) (WHO, 1997).

CDC recommended prevention strategies for individuals who are sexually active:

Engage in sexual activities that don't involve vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.

Having intercourse only with one uninfected partner.

Using latex condoms correctly from start to finish with each act of intercourse.

REFERENCES:

Breitman, Patti Knatson, Kim & Reed, Paul. (1987). How to persuade your lover to use a condom…any why you should. (p. 5). San Francisco: New York Publishers.

Centers for Disease Control. (1997/1998). The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, 1997-1998. HIV/AIDS Prevention [On-line] Available: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/hiv_aids/pubs/facts/hivrepfs.htm

Centers for Disease Control. CDC recommended prevention strategies. [On-line] Available: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/hiv_aids/pubs/facts/condoms.htm

Cohen, P. T. Sande, Merle A. Volberding, Paul A. (1990). The AIDS Knowledge base. Massachusetts Medical Society.

Gilbert, Lisa, Alexander, Linda. (1998). A profile of sexual health behaviors among college women. Psychological Reports, 82, 107-116.

Krauss, Beatrice J. (1997). HIV education for teens and preteens in a high-seroprevalence inner-city neighborhood. Families in Society, 78, 579-591.

Oswalt, Sara, Welle-Graf, Helen M. Minter, LaKeisha. (1998). Need for HIV home testing kit option and education. Journal of College Student Development, 39, 627-629.

Petrow, Steven, Franks, Pat, & Wolfred, Timothy R. (1990). Ending the HIV epidemic. Santa Cruz: San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Prince, Alice, Bernard, Amy L. (1998). Sexual behaviors and safer sex practices of college students on a commuter campus. Journal of American College Health, 47, 11-21.

Serovich, Julianne M. & Greene, Kathryn. (1997). Predictors of adolescent sexual risk taking behaviors which put them at risk for contracting HIV. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26, 429-444.

The Social Impact of AIDS in the United States. (1993). Washington, D.C.: National Research Council.

Soet, Johanna E. DiIorio, Colleen, Dudley, William N. (1998). Women's self-reported condom use: intra and interpersonal factors. Women & Health, 27, 19-32.

Stine, Gerald J. (1999). AIDS Update 1999. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Yi, Jenny K. (1998). Vietnamese American college students' knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Journal of American College Health, 47, 37-42.

Zagumny, Matthew J. & Brady, D. Brian. (1998). Development of the AIDS Health Belief Scale (AHBS). AIDS Education and Prevention, 10, 173-179.

MY SPIN:

In the face of the tragic and preventable illness of HIV/AIDS I have many thoughts about the future. I think that as a world community we need to address ignorance on many levels in order to help prevent transmission of HIV.

I am talking here of ignorance about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, drug users, people of different origins, and methods of transmission, as well as sexual practices in general.

I write this because HIV is very preventable. In fact, one has to put some kind of effort into transmitting HIV to someone or contracting HIV from someone. If this is true why is HIV so widespread?

HIV is widespread because people are afraid, and associate HIV with the infamous "other", with uncleanliness, with people different from themselves.

My advice to those that I know, and to those that I don't, is to inform oneself. Learn about people and things that you know nothing about. Learn about how HIV is transmitted so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

Also, talk about sexuality, talk about past histories, talk to your children, talk to your parents, talk to your friends, and use precautions. Assume any new sexual partner might be HIV positive, and act accordingly.

Be informed.

Live.

Love!