Korean J Women Health Nurs.  2008 Sep;14(3):205-212.

Health Behaviors, Reproductive Health History, and Sexual Behaviors of College Students

• Ahn S
• Park I
• Han JS
• Kim TI
• Kwak MS
• Chung HS

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey the health behaviors related to reproductive health, reproductive health history, and sexual behaviors of college students in local areas. METHOD: With a survey design, 792 college students from C and D areas were recruited to assess health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as history of reproductive health and sexual behaviors. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from November to December, 2007. RESULT: Mean age of the students was 20.8(SD=1.96) and gender distribution was 29.2% for male and 70.8% for female. Unhealthy behaviors were alcohol drinking, smoking, excessive weight loss, and irregular exercise; unsafe sex practices were experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Male students had more alcohol drinking (p=.04), smoking(p<.001), excessive weight loss(p=.01), experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners(p<.001), history of STD(p=.025) compared to females. On the other hands, female students participated in regular exercise less than males(p<.001).
CONCLUSION
College students seem to perform unhealthy behaviors related to reproductive health and less effective way of safe sex practices. Therefore, a planned education program for reproductive health promotion operated by college level is needed to assess and improve the level of reproductive health in college students.

Keyword

Reproductive health; Health behavior; Sexually Transmitted Disease; Sexual behavior

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking
Coitus
Female
Hand
Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Surveys and Questionnaires
Reproductive Health
Safe Sex
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Smoke
Smoking
Unsafe Sex
Weight Loss
Smoke