142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

309203
Regional Differences in U.S. College Students' Oral and Sexual Health

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD , Department of Public Health, A T Still University, Gainesville, FL
Vanessa Pazdernik , A T Still University, AZ
Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a cause of oropharyngeal cancers that is increasing among young people in the U.S. Due to the probable associations of oral sex with oral health and HPV infections, it is important to evaluate the sexual and oral health behavior of college students.

Methods: Data were obtained from the American College Health Association (ACHA-NCHA) surveys from 2011-2012.  The total of 56,011 survey responses were analyzed using SAS 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC) and assessed with Chi-Square tests of independence.  Results: The rate of genital warts/HPV, as reported by students being diagnosed within past 12 months, varied by geographic region of the college campus (p<.0001). Frequencies for genital warts were 1.01% for Northeast (NE), 1.42% for Midwest (MW), 1.60% for South (S), and 1.31% for West (W) region. For the HPV vaccinations, relative frequencies were 49.44% (NE), 39.10% (NW), 40.49% (S), 39.64% (W) (p<.0001). Frequencies for oral sex experience were 65.94% (NE), 72.03% (MW), 69.41% (S), 71.16% (W) (p<.0001), and for condom/barrier use during oral sex were 2.36% (NE), 1.85% (MW), 1.55% (S), 2.04% (W). Frequencies for dental exam/cleaning within last 12 months were 77.73% (NE), 73.41% (MW), 72.04% (S) and 71.19% (W) (p<.0001).

Conclusions: Fewer students in Northeast region reported genital warts/HPV, more HPV vaccinations, fewer oral sex experiences, and more condom/barrier use during oral sex than students in other regions. Students in Northeast region may experience somewhat better health compared to other regions. National interdisciplinary programs are needed to promote sexual and oral health.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Epidemiology
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of national interdisciplinary efforts to promote oral and sexual health in young adults.

Keyword(s): Oral Health, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a PhD and DDS degree in preventive dentistry. I have authored multiple articles and conducted original research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.