Sex and Contraception Among College and Graduate Students During COVID-19 (2020-2021)

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many changes in daily life. Although most of the focus has been on changes related to large-scale social activities (e.g., work, school, shopping, dining out), it is likely that the pandemic has also affected sexual habits, activities and health practices, especially outside of stable partnerships, in ways that could affect both reproductive health and COVID-19 transmission. For young adults pursuing post-high school education, cancellation of in-person classes, closure of many campuses and reduced access to in-person healthcare may put those who are sexually active at higher risk of unplanned pregnancy or STIs. There are existing racial and ethnic disparities within this group in terms of contraceptive access and use and STI incidence, which may be exacerbated by the racial and ethnic disparities in the impact of COVID-19. Understanding the ways in which these factors may interact has important health implications for both COVID-19 prevention and reproductive health. Project Description This project team will examine sexual activity, sexually transmitted infection (STI) awareness and prevention, and contraceptive use and access among undergraduate, graduate and professional students in North Carolina before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will focus on young adults who are undergraduate and graduate students, including those at two- and four-year colleges and universities in the Triangle. The team will utilize a survey through REDCap that will address elements such as demographic information, attitudes toward social distancing, pandemic-related anxiety, risk-taking behavior, sexual behavior pre- and post-pandemic and contraceptive use, and will use existing and validated measures when they are available. Team members will plan participant recruitment through social media advertising and campus-based email listservs. Additionally, team members will conduct a needs assessment regarding sexual health access and information at local colleges and universities, including Duke, to inform dissemination and capacity-building around sexual education and contraceptive access. The team will examine ongoing student access to healthcare, financial stressors affecting healthcare and campus response and planning for future instruction. Team members will also engage local campus groups to help ensure adequate representation among racial, ethnic, gender and sexual minorities. Anticipated Outputs Needs assessment regarding sexual health access during a pandemic at local two- and four-year colleges; academic publications; educational materials; conference presentations; data for future grant applications