Abstract
Aim: To investigate the occurrence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated factors among female university students requesting contraceptive counselling.Material and methods: Cross-sectional study. Female university students (n = 353) completed a waiting-room questionnaire in connection with contraceptive counselling at a Student Health Centre in Uppsala, Sweden.Results: Ninety-three (26.3%) female students had experienced an STI. The three most frequently reported STIs were chlamydia trachomatis, condyloma, and genital herpes. The experience of an STI was significantly associated with the total number of sexual partners (OR 1.060, 95% CI 1.030–1.091, P < 0.001), being heterosexual (OR 4.640, 95% CI 1.321–16.290, P = 0.017), having experienced an abortion (OR 2.744, 95% CI 1.112–6.771, P = 0.028), not being HPV-vaccinated (OR 2.696, 95% CI 1.473–4.935, P = 0.001), and having had intercourse on first night without using a condom (OR 2.375, 95% CI 1.182–4.771, P = 0.015).Conclusions: Contraceptive counselling should also include information about primary and secondary prevention of STI, such as the importance of correct use of a condom and STI testing, to prevent a further spread of STIs.
Highlights
Sexual behaviour among female university students in Sweden has been investigated in repeated surveys over 25 years
In our study one out of four women reported a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and chlamydia was most common, which is in line with previous results from Sweden [10]
Two cases were reported in the present study, and given the number of sexual partners a spread of gonorrhoea to reach the high incidence reported in the 1970s cannot be excluded
Summary
Sexual behaviour among female university students in Sweden has been investigated in repeated surveys over 25 years. The sexual lifestyle of female university students has gradually become more risky over the last decades, with an increased number of sexual partners and, simultaneously, a decrease in condom use and increased experience of unprotected anal intercourse [1,2,3,4,5,6]. The general population of Swedish women aged 16–24 years take more risks in their sexual behaviour, and the prevalence of casual sexual intercourse without the use of a condom doubled between 1989 and 2007 [7]. Use of a condom is promoted to sexually active adolescents and young people. The compliance with this recommendation is, far from perfect. A study among young men in Sweden found that the main barriers to safe sex were interference with spontaneity, pleasure reduction, fear of losing erection, embarrassment or distrust, and difficulties in communicating about safe sex [8]
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