Abstract

Sexual health concerns such as sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy remain substantial health problems faced by young adults, especially college women. University healthcare providers may be instrumental in increasing female patients’ involvement in preventative sexual health behaviors, however little research has examined this issue. In-depth interviews were conducted with women’s clinic providers at a university health center using the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to better understand providers’ beliefs about discussing and recommending sexual health prevention to their patients. Providers felt comfortable and confident discussing and recommending various sexual health prevention behaviors and stated that a health history questionnaire is a useful tool to guide this process. However, they stated time restraints greatly limit their ability to adequately address preventative health practices when more pressing issues needed to be addressed. College health professionals should include providers as a component of prevention interventions and utilize providers as a mechanism to increase preventative health behaviors.