Theoretical assessment of sexuality-related services among college health centers

Scott M Butler, Purdue University

Abstract

Individuals within collegiate settings may be at increased risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual assault. Given this public health risk, collegiate health centers may provide the majority of the sexual healthcare services to their student populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of sexuality-related services among a national sample of U.S. college and university student health centers. A newly-created instrument titled the Sexual Health Services Questionnaire was developed to assess the prevalence of sexuality-related services. In addition, an instrument developed by Okafor (2006) based upon the constructs of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT), was adapted to assess the relationship among sexuality services, institutional demographics, sexual health clinical guideline enablers, and DIT constructs. The questionnaires were sent to a geographically representative sampling frame of 1,200 college and university health center directors, 358 (29.8% response rate) of whom completed the questionnaire. Statistical analyses to evaluate external validity indicated institutionally that participants represented the U.S. geographically and results are similar to previous datasets collected from national investigations. Results provide a nationwide assessment of sexuality-related services at college health centers including services such as HPV vaccine availability and emergency contraceptive pills over-the-counter that had not previously been assessed. Statistically significant positive correlations are present among the individual constructs of the DIT and sexual health guideline enablers. The participation in sexual health decision making by the director, institutional formalization, and institutional complexity are significant predictors of sexuality services as a whole as well as consistent predictors of key services and recent sexologic innovations. Campus student population is the most frequent significant demographic predictor of sexuality services, wherein an increase in student population suggests increased service availability. In addition, faith-based institutions are significantly less likely to offer several key and innovative services when compared to non-faith-based institutions. Overall, results of the present study can be utilized in establishing national benchmarks for college health centers, suggest that the DIT is an appropriate theoretical framework for assessing sexuality-related services, and promulgate the relationship between demographic variables and sexual health initiatives on college and university campuses.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Black, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Public health

Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server
.

Share

COinS