Factors Affecting Condom Use and STD Communication Among Asian-Indian College Students: Exploring Controversial Issues

Background:
STDs pose a serious risk to college students. A paucity of research exists on Asian-Indian students' sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.

Objective:
This study examined the following research questions: 1) How knowledgeable are Asian-Indian college students about STDs? 2) What are the most commonly perceived benefits and barriers to condom use? 3) What percent of sexually active students reported using a condom at last sexual intercourse? 4) How confident do students feel in communicating to their sexual partners about condom use, STDs and STD testing? 5) Do STD knowledge, condom use, perceived benefits/barriers to condom use, and perceived confidence in communicating about STDs vary based on students' sex, years in US, and ever received school sexuality education?

Method:
A 15-section survey was completed by 122 Asian-Indian students enrolled at a Midwestern university. Content validity, stability reliability and internal consistency reliability were established.

Result:
Results found that STD knowledge was low. Less than half (47%) had received school sexuality education. Regarding sexual involvement, 31% had ever had sexual intercourse and 35% had ever participated in oral sex. Of those sexually active, 71% reported using a condom at last intercourse, while 39% reported always using a condom. Half (49%) did not feel confident in talking to their partner about using condoms. One-third (37%) felt confident in talking to their partner about STDs and STD testing. Females, those who had lived in the US for at least 3 years, and those with fewer perceived barriers to condom use knew significantly more than their counterparts about STDs.

Conclusion:
Overall STD knowledge, condom use and confidence levels in discussing condom use, STDs and STD testing were quite low among this sample.

Implications:
Such findings could be used by community and university-based health educators to effectively serve the needs of Asian-Indian students.