Professor publishes condom study

A groundbreaking new study conducted by a Georgia College professor reveals that students’ sexual health care needs are not sufficiently met by their universities.Scott Butler, assistant professor of community health in the Department of Kinesiology, conducted the nationwide study titled “Condom and Safer Sex Product Availability among U.S. College Health Centers.”

Butler received a grant from GC, began collecting data in 2007 and published his findings the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality on July 6.

With a specialization in sexual health care availability at colleges, Butler sought to assess the availability of condoms and safer sex products, as well as condom distribution procedures among college health centers nationwide.

After surveying 358 colleges across the nation, Butler’s conclusions are astounding.        “While nearly 85 percent of all colleges distribute condoms to their students,” he said, “the average number of condoms given is only 1.15 condoms per student per year.”

According to Butler, this study is “the very first investigation to assess the number of condoms given to students per year by colleges and universities nationwide.”

The results indicate that, while most colleges do provide male latex condoms to their students, the number of condoms provided is not adequate to fit the students’ sexual health needs. Additionally, the way in which these condoms are distributed is limited.

“How is it that we are overlooking health care services for 20 million people?” Butler asked.

In addition, Butler concluded that faith-based colleges were less likely to sponsor a condom distribution program and, on average, gave fewer condoms per year to students when compared to non-faith-based schools.

Despite the results of the study, senior community health major Will Long thinks that GC handles the topic of sexual health care adequately.

“I think GC does a great job distributing sexual health items as compared to other colleges,” he said. “I know some colleges that make students pay extra for sexual health items and some schools that do not offer any items because they promote ‘abstinence first.’”

According to University Health Educator Rachel Sullivan, Student Health Services ordered a total of 10,000 condoms in 2010. These condoms were distributed to students free of charge.

“I feel that our Student Health Services is doing a great job at trying to look out for our students and prevent the spread of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) among our community,” Long said.

Visit this link to read his study.

Posted by Vanessa Whited on Sep 15 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.