Peer-to-peer education of college females on sexual health

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the sexual health knowledge of female undergraduate college students before and following a peer to peer, sexual health education intervention. Participants: Sixty-nine students participated in the study. Methods: Undergraduate female students from a central Florida private college completed paper-pencil questionnaires before and after a series of four peer-to-peer sexual health poster sessions. Results: Findings showed female undergraduate students had sexual health knowledge deficits prior to the intervention. Also, participant knowledge significantly increased pre-to post-test (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results bring to light the continued sexual health knowledge deficits of undergraduate college students. Furthermore, the benefits of a peer-to-peer education programs on college campuses have the potential to increase undergraduate student’s sexual health knowledge. Such programs may help students develop and maintain positive sexual health, including sexual self-efficacy, positive body image, and mutually respectful relationship development.