An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity.

Objective: To assess the sexual health of young community college students so that health promotion priorities can be identified and tailored programming can be implemented for this understudied population. Participants: A national sample of 1,678 community college students. Methods: Survey data was analyzed to understand trends in sexual health - including differences by gender and sexual identity. Results: While 54% of the sample have had vaginal sex and 16% have had anal sex, rates of condom use for these behaviors are low (respectively 51% and 42%). Only 52% of students have communicated with a medical professional about sexual health and 42% have been tested for STIs. Young men have the lowest odds of communicating with a medical professional about sexual health. Heterosexual men have particularly low odds of getting tested for STIs. Conclusions: Community college students need additional resources - eg, education, accessible health care - to promote their sexual health.