STBBIs are infections transmitted through bodily fluids from sexual activity or through contact with infected blood. These infections include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, vaginal infections, human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and more.
It is important for students to understand not just the symptoms of these infections, but the process of transmission, latent phases, and how diagnoses occur (Cassidy et al., 2015). According to a Canadian study, the odds of acquiring a STBBI increases when having four or more sexual partners, using cannabis in the past 30 days, engaging in anal intercourse, and never being tested for HIV (Haghir et al., 2018).
Recommendations
In addition to sexual health services, educational and awareness programs related to these topics, which include promoting safer sex practices, are important for mitigating these risks. Steps campuses can take include:
- Making information on and access to STBBI testing readily available
- Providing low-barrier access to safer sex equipment (e.g., condoms, lube, dental dams)
- Supporting open and non-judgemental dialogue about sexual health with students
- Understanding cultural barriers and taboos related to sexual health and developing culturally appropriate services
- Addressing stigma as well as the taboo nature of certain topics (e.g., sex work, porn use)
- Adopting a harm reduction, sex positive, perspective to sexual health education that positions healthy sex as somewhere in-between ‘unbound pleasure’ and ‘restricted sexual safety’ (Naisteter & Sitron, 2010)
- Supporting peer education and support programs (e.g., to increase condom use and HIV testing)
Resources
- A Guide to Discussing Sexual Health, Substance Use, and STBBIs by the Canadian Public Health Association
- Best Practices for Sexual Health Promotion and Clinical Care in College Health Settings by the American College Health Association
- PRIM3D: A Sexual Health Guide for Queer Trans Men and Trans Masculine and Non-Binary People by PRIM3D
- Tips for Communicating about Sexual Health by American Sexual Health Association
