Peer-to-Peer Education of College Females on Sexual Health

Skelly C,Hall C,Risher C,Brown B

doi:10.13189/ujer.2018.060505

Skelly C, Hall C + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2018.060505

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Abstract

Objective: This study examined the sexual health knowledge of female undergraduate college students before and following a peer to peer, sexual health education intervention. Participants: Sixty-nine students participated in the study. Methods: Undergraduate female students from a central Florida private college completed paper-pencil questionnaires before and after a series of four peer-to-peer sexual health poster sessions. Results: Findings showed female undergraduate students had sexual health knowledge deficits prior to the intervention. Also, participant knowledge significantly increased pre- to post-test (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results bring to light the continued sexual health knowledge deficits of undergraduate college students. Furthermore, the benefits of a peer-to-peer education programs on college campuses have the potential to increase undergraduate student's sexual health knowledge. Such programs may help students develop and maintain positive sexual health, including sexual self-efficacy, positive body image, and mutually respectful relationship development.

Highlights

In 1964 the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) was formed to address the need for adolescent and young adults to have access to accurate information about sex, sexuality and sexual health [1]
A raffle drawing of a single $100.00 gift card was used as remuneration for the students who participated in the study
The final sample size of students who participated in the study was sixty-nine with sixty-seven fully completed questionnaires (N=67)

Summary

Introduction

In 1964 the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) was formed to address the need for adolescent and young adults to have access to accurate information about sex, sexuality and sexual health [1]. Despite 90% of college age women noting formal sexual health education, many students continue to have significant knowledge gaps [5]. This is influenced by the fact that only 24 states mandate sexual health education in high schools [5]. Those states providing sexual health education do so inconsistently and often with inaccurate sexual health information [6]

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