The post-secondary period can involve many milestones, questions, and challenges in relation to one’s sexual health and identity. This period may also entail experimentation and exploration as students find independence and immerse themselves in campus culture. Consequently, this is also a period of elevated risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the legalization of cannabis, has changed sexual health outcomes and the way that services are accessed. Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (2024b) shows a 25% increase in first-time HIV diagnoses in 2022 over the previous year. In a 2024 national survey of Canadians aged 18-24, 24% of participants said they use condoms “all the time,” compared to 53% who said they always used condoms in 2020 (Alberga, 2024). While some data indicates that rates of binge drinking and sexual activity while using substances remained stable between 2012 and 2021, the use of cannabis while having sex has increased (Cano et al., 2023). Use of cannabis alongside sex is a risk factor for acquiring a sexually transmitted infection (Haghir et al., 2018). Apart from STBBIs, risks related to sexual behaviour and health include unsafe sex work, unwanted pregnancy, and compulsive behaviours.
Most post-secondary institutions try to provide resources and education to support students during this time, especially when students are transitioning from high school to post-secondary. This includes sex education, access to contraceptives, and conversations on safe sex and consent, which all fall under harm reduction strategies (Sansone et al., 2022). However, there is more work to be done, especially in addressing topics that may be considered taboo.
