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  • Title: Sexual behavior and attitudes of university students in Northern Ireland.
    Author: Sneddon I, Kremer J.
    Journal: Arch Sex Behav; 1992 Jun; 21(3):295-312. PubMed ID: 1610290.
    Abstract:
    Two surveys of a Northern Ireland student sample were conducted in 1987 and 1988. A total of 419 female and 201 male subjects completed self-administered anonymous questionnaires concerning their behavior, knowledge, and attitudes towards sex, AIDS, homosexuality, contraception, and relationships. Results indicated a relatively low level of sexual experience, and for those with experience, relatively few partners. The possible influences of gender and religiosity on sexual behavior and attitudes, in the context of Northern Ireland, are discussed. Subjects reported considerable variation in the amount of sex education, but the majority received little or none. This student sample held relatively conservative attitudes towards love, sex, and marriage and this was particularly true for females and for regular churchgoers. In addition, attitudes towards homosexuality were negative (particularly among regular churchgoers). Attitudes towards contraception were more positive than expected among Catholic subjects, and few indicated that they would refuse to use contraceptives on principle. Responses to items about AIDS were highly uniform, suggesting that much of the information made available to the public has been absorbed. However, the lack of uniformity of response to more general items about sex, relationships, and contraception may indicate that fundamental changes in sexual behavior are unlikely to be brought about by influencing a rather narrowly defined set of attitudes about AIDS. Compared to other populations, the residents of northern Ireland are at relatively low risk for AIDS. As such, research was conducted to learn more about sexual behavior, knowledge, attitudes, AIDS, homosexuality, contraception, and relationships in a sample of regional college students. While not representative of the broad population of northern Ireland, these students nonetheless offer insight into potential determinants supporting this low risk of HIV infection and AIDS. 419 females and 201 males were surveyed through self-administered, anonymous questionnaires. The survey revealed a relatively low level of sexual experience, with only 50% of men and 44% of women attesting to having had sexual intercourse. Of those with experience, 35% of men and 49% of women were confined to 1 partner. Oddly enough, 1st-year students reported having more partners than students in any of the 3 more senior academic levels. 51% of these sexually experienced males claimed experience with 3 or more partners. 1/3 of the sample had no formal sex education in school, but Catholics were more exposed than Protestants to sex education. 50% were unable to accurately explain to what the initials AIDS refer, and only 2 could decipher HIV+. Modes of transmission were better recognized. 80% would welcome more information about AIDS. Only 7% would refuse contraception on principle, and were almost exclusively regular church-going Catholics. 41% employed condoms, and 16% of those sexually active frequently used no contraception. 91% felt not at risk of AIDS, and approximately 755 had not changed their behavior in response to AIDS. Overall, these students were relatively conservative about love, sex, marriage, and homosexuality. Views were especially narrow among females and regular churchgoers.
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