HIV Prevention Strategies among College Students
Summary
College environments are characterised by unique social and developmental factors that influence HIV risk and prevention behaviours. Strategies in this context encompass behavioural, biomedical and structural interventions designed to enhance awareness, reduce transmission and improve access to services. Behavioural approaches include peer‐led education, stigma reduction workshops and skills training in condom negotiation. Biomedical measures focus on expanding access to HIV testing, linkage to care and the uptake of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among at-risk groups. Structural efforts target campus policies, integration of sexual health services into student health centres and the deployment of digital platforms for risk communication. Attention to disparities—particularly among racial and gender minorities—has driven culturally tailored programmes at predominantly Black institutions and international campuses. Interventions that combine stress management, substance use reduction and sexual health education have shown promise in reducing co-occurring risk behaviours. Finally, routine monitoring of knowledge gaps, self-perception of risk and barriers to testing underpins the continuous refinement of prevention strategies, ensuring global relevance and practical applicability in diverse collegiate settings.
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HIV Prevention Strategies among College Students publication trend
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Technical terms
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): A biomedical prevention approach in which HIV-negative individuals at high risk take antiretroviral medication to reduce the chance of acquiring HIV.
Self-perceived risk: An individual’s own assessment of their likelihood of acquiring HIV, which influences engagement with prevention services.
Condom negotiation: Communication strategies employed by sexual partners to initiate and agree upon condom use, critical for reducing transmission risk.
References
- HIV sexual risk behaviors and perception of risk among college students: implications for planning interventions. BMC Public Health (2009).
- Awareness and acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among students at two historically Black universities (HBCU): a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health (2021).
- Similarities and Differences Matter: Considering the Influence of Gender on HIV Prevention Programs for Young Adults in an Urban HBCU. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2017).
- Color It Real: A Program to Increase Condom Use and Reduce Substance Abuse and Perceived Stress. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2015).
- Risk Perception About HIV Among University Students in One of the Last Hotspots for HIV Transmission in Europe. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health (2023).
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