Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 18, 2002
"The good news is that most students are making smart sexual health decisions. But we have identified areas where they need more information and open discussion," says Drew Hunter, executive director of BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network, the nation's only college peer education organization. "That's where we come in. If we can get students to truly know the facts, we believe we could see a further reduction in unintended pregnancy and STI transmission rates."
In an effort to provide college students with accurate information and encourage discussion about sexual health issues, BACCHUS and GAMMA has joined forces with Pharmacia Corporation, makers of DEPO-PROVERA(R) Contraceptive Injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension), to launch the Smarter Sex campaign. The campaign will include peer-to-peer programs on campuses across the nation, as well as http://www.SmarterSex.org, a new online sexual health guide for students, educators and parents.
"The survey gives us insight into what young adults know and don't know about their sexual health," says Ellen Geisel, senior vice-president, Customer Communications, Pharmacia Corporation. "As the maker of one of the most effective and convenient methods of birth control available today, we are proud to support BACCHUS and GAMMA in developing this important educational initiative."
The new web site, http://www.SmarterSex.org, features information that college students can use to help manage of their sexual health safely and smartly. In addition to the latest information about sexual health, relationships, contraception and STIs, the web site also includes interactive quizzes about contraceptives and STIs and a "Birth Control Matchmaker."
"From my experience as a peer educator, many students come to college without the basic knowledge they need to make good sexual health decisions. In fact, this survey found that one out of four students enters college without any formal sex education," says Jamie Haak, BACCHUS and GAMMA student trustee and peer educator at the University of Illinois. "SmarterSex.org is a great resource for subjects that may not have been discussed at home or in school and can help peer educators get students talking more openly about sexual health issues that affect our age group."
Most Virgins 18-24 From the Survey are Men
The survey found, while students scored highly on the basics of smart sex, their knowledge decreased when asked the specifics about certain topics. For example:
* When it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV knowledge, young men and women score high on basics but still need more important information.
-- More than half of the participants (62 percent) believe they can tell if someone has an STI "just by looking," even though the two most common STIs, chlamydia and HPV, may not exhibit any noticeable symptoms.
* Students need more education about correct contraceptive use.
-- Most men (87 percent) and women (60 percent) say they know how to use a condom correctly. However, three out of four women (73 percent) reported that they do not use a condom as a back-up method when they have missed a birth control pill.
* Most 18-24 year-old students aren't engaging in frequent, casual sex. -- About 34 percent of male survey participants say they have not had intercourse, compared to 18 percent of female survey participants. Students in this survey say they had intercourse with an average of 1.2 partners in the last year.
"A problem we see is that women and their partners don't always use contraceptives correctly or consistently -- which puts them at risk," says Margaret Bridwell, MD, OB/GYN, Director of the University Health Center, University of Maryland and a BACCHUS and GAMMA Board of Trustees member. "With so many non-daily birth control methods available, such as DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection, we hope that information on http://www.Smartersex.org will encourage women to discuss with their healthcare providers what birth control options may be better suited to their lifestyles."
About the Research
For the Smarter Sex Survey, 1,051 students (526 men and 525 women) ages 18-24 participated in an online survey and were asked to assess their knowledge about sexual topics, including contraception, STIs, relationships and date rape. The survey was conducted by Impulse Research, Los Angeles, on behalf of Pharmacia Corporation, and results were analyzed according to gender and age. The web site contains additional details about the survey.
About DEPO-PROVERA
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is a highly effective, long-acting, reversible birth control method. Used by millions of women around the world, DEPO-PROVERA offers the convenience of dosing only four times a year with 99.7 percent efficacy in preventing unwanted pregnancy, making it one of the most reliable prescription contraceptives available to young women.
Important Safety Information
Like any hormonal birth control, DEPO-PROVERA doesn't protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. The most common side effects are irregular periods or spotting. Many women stop having periods altogether after few months and some may experience a slight weight gain. Women who think they could be pregnant, who have had any unexplained periods or a history of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease shouldn't use DEPO- PROVERA. When using DEPO-PROVERA, there may a possible decrease in bone density. DEPO-PROVERA(R) Contraceptive Injection is a trademark of Pharmacia Corporation.
About BACCHUS and GAMMA
BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network is an international association of college- and university-based peer education programs focusing on sexual health education, alcohol abuse prevention and other student health and safety issues. The mission of BACCHUS and GAMMA is to actively promote peer education as a useful element of campus health education and wellness efforts. Through peer-driven education and activities designed to increase awareness of changing student health and safety issues, BACCHUS and GAMMA focuses on the development and promotion of positive lifestyles and decision-making skills. For more information about BACCHUS and GAMMA, visit http://www.bacchusgamma.org.
About Pharmacia Corporation
Pharmacia Corporation (NYSE: PHA) is a top-tier global pharmaceutical company whose innovative medicines and other products save lives and enhance health and wellness. Pharmacia's 43,000 people work together with many diverse stakeholders to bring these benefits to people around the world, and to create new health solutions for the future. On July 15, 2002, Pharmacia and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced the signing of a definitive agreement providing for Pfizer to acquire Pharmacia in a stock-for-stock transaction that is expected to close by the end of 2002.
For information on BACCHUS and GAMMA or SmarterSex.org, please contact Nicole Scull at Manning, Selvage and Lee at 212-213-7448 or nicole.scull@mslpr.com. For more information on DEPO-PROVERA, including important product information, please visit the DEPO-PROVERA web site at http://www.depo-provera.com or contact Pharmacia Corporation: Caroline Bullock at (908) 901-8591.
SOURCE Pharmacia Corporation Web Site: http://www.SmarterSex.org http://www.bacchusgamma.org http://www.depo-provera.com
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