High-risk sexual behaviors of college students: Perspectives of African-American college women.

Abstract

Analysis of the results indicated that the reasons why African-American college women participate in high-risk sexual behaviors were: competition with the White female for the Black athlete; lack of self-esteem which includes fear of losing the relationship, naive, peer pressure or influence; personal choice; please or appease her partner; and trust and belief that she is in a monogamous relationship. Family morality-values and permissive behaviors of family members will also influence young women to engage in unprotected sex. On the other hand, most of these respondents believed that alcohol was used as an excuse to justify irresponsible behavior. In addition, smoking marijuana was not considered by these respondents, to be a behavior which led to unprotected sex.

Today's institutions offer a variety of student support services focusing on sexual health and sexual responsibility. The author emphasizes that sexual health and responsibility should be covered and repeated, in a required freshman seminar class because reaching students early and often with information about appropriate sexual behavior is the key to preventing infection among students.

This study was a qualitative inquiry designed to uncover the underlying issues that discover or bring about an understanding of significant circumstances that place college women in general, and African-American college women, in particular, at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.

The greatest benefit from this study was: that these data can provide Student Affairs program planners a framework for cultural-intervention with regard to risk-reduction or behavior change when working with sexually active African-American populations on campuses. If programs are to be effective then they must offer a variety of prevention techniques including: condom distribution, birth control and emergency contraception; and education workshops designed to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. This study focused on eight African-American college women who were 18 to 30 years of age. Face-to-face individual and focus group interviews were conducted utilizing open-ended questions, which were used to facilitate an investigation into the participants' internal and subjective views.

More research is needed on the African-Centered approach to problem solving. Asante (1980) described the African-centered philosophical approach to problem solving as using the multi-disciplinary approach, which is a comprehensive application to problem solving. This philosophy recognizes that there is no separation from the student's social, spiritual and material world. In addition, scholars should investigate the connection between how African identity and self-concept development can empower people to take control of their sexual health.

In the broadest sense, the purpose of this study was to develop more insight into and greater understanding of possible reasons why African-American women risk their health by continuing to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Detailed answers were sought to the research question: Which life-circumstances do Black women perceive have the greatest influence on their attitudes and motivations to participate in high-risk sexual behaviors?

Also, the results of this study demonstrated that these college women were able to continue with their academic life even though they had children in most cases, and in some cases had encountered a sexually transmitted infection such as trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Even though becoming a parent gave these students more responsibility; it appears to have also provided them the needed purpose in life to continue their academic quest.