THURS-039 - Let’s Get sexuwell: Promoting Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing/prevention Among College Students Through Partner Organizations

Brief Abstract Summary: One in four college students has a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is imperative for universities to provide STI prevention and testing services. At the University of Birmingham at Alabama, the Wellness Promotion Office provides resources through the “Let’s get SexuWELL” program. This program offers condoms and sexual education at outreach events, workshops, and plans to offer a new program “SexuWELL On-the-Go” where students request delivery of condoms to their dorm.
To promote multiple avenues of STI testing, with a focus on underserved students, Wellness Promotion works with campus, local and state-level partners. The Student Health Center offers STI screening; these medical claims are processed through health insurance. Partnering with BAO and AIDS Alabama, Wellness Promotion offers bimonthly, free on-campus STI testing events. A partnership with ADPH has allowed the Wellness Promotion to offer at-home STI test kits which are marketed using LGBTQ+ inclusive language.

Detailed abstract description: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among young adults; about one in four college students currently has an STI. Many of these STIs are asymptomatic, meaning there are no outward symptoms or signs of infection. This underscores the importance of regular STI testing to prevent not only the spread of these infections, but also to prevent worse individual health outcomes resulting from untreated or unmanaged STIs.
The Wellness Promotion Office at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is actively addressing these needs by offering STI prevention resources and STI testing avenues, also known as the “Let’s get SexuWELL” programming. This programming offers STI prevention resources in three methods. Through SexuWELL, condoms and education are made available to students via outreach events, in-person workshops, and have plans to offer a new addition of “SexuWELL On-the-Go” where students may request delivery of condoms to their dorm room.
Through partnerships with the Student Health Center, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, AIDS Alabama, and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)- the Wellness Promotion Office promotes several avenues of STI testing for students at UAB. The Student Health Center at UAB offers STI screening exams and labs for all students, Monday through Friday. This is a critical resource that has been available for students and these medical claims are processed through the student’s individual health insurance plan.
However, it was noted that other STI testing opportunities should be made available based on stakeholder feedback. Therefore, the Wellness Promotion Office co-sponsors STI testing events with two local agencies, Birmingham AIDS Outreach and AIDS Alabama. Beginning in Fall 2022, the Wellness Promotion has hosted bi-monthly events on campus which offer free STI and HIV testing. These events have been successful in promoting STI testing among UAB students through these outreach events. Approximately 101 students were tested during the 2022-2023 academic year and the rate more than doubled in the 2023-2024 academic year with 221 students tested. These public events are an effective method for reducing barriers to care by catching the attention of students on campus who may not use or be able to afford STI testing services through the Student Health Center.
Although, some students may not wish to participate in a primary care testing or a public testing event which is why one of our Lead POWs formed a partnership with our state public health agency, ADPH, to obtain 20 at-home STI testing kits. The Wellness Promotion Office can now offer 10 at-home testing kits for those assigned female at birth (AFAB) and 10 at-home STI testing kits for those assigned male at birth (AMAB). These discrete “Binx boxes” are marketed using LGBTQ+ inclusive language and allow students to self-swab, return the testing materials back to ADPH in a pre-paid mailing box, and then receive their results via a smartphone app.