To begin, I want to acknowledge that my interest in this subject began from learning about HIV/AIDS activism in GSS101 and in PBH395: Public Health & Film. I learned that HIV/AIDS activism was a movement where individuals, mainly from the lesbian and gay community, radicalized and advocated for expedited research on treatment and quality healthcare even through the stigma. Furthermore, I learned the impact of HIV/AIDS activism on healthcare and drug development, as well as the development of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to stop HIV transmission. However, a recent study on college students reported that 73% of students do not use condoms during sex and 43% of students have never received HIV testing (Stutts et al., 2020). Students who did get tested for HIV were more likely to be women, students at public schools, upper-year students, and students with higher HIV and PrEP knowledge (Stutts et al., 2020). Meanwhile, Davidson College is a private liberal arts college with a balanced student body in terms of gender and class year. 

When I first arrived at Davidson College, I heard about the free and confidential, monthly STI and HIV testing provided by the Mecklenburg County Health Department and Davidson Health Education Office. However, I learned this semester that this was no longer a service that was offered. Furthermore, while Davidson College offers a sexual health education course during orientation and resources (condoms, dental damns, lubricants, etc.) to improve sexual health behavior, it does not provide HIV education or resources, including education on and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).  Thus, for my theory to praxis assignment, I would like to create a comprehensive policy to reinstate the free and confidential monthly STI testing clinic and implement health education and resources for HIV. 

First, Davidson College should partner with the Mecklenburg County Health Department (MCHD) once again to provide free and confidential STI testing to students. Currently, STI testing requires scheduling with a nurse clinic and paying $105 for a Gonorrhea/Chlamydia swab test, $35 for a Syphilis blood sample test, or $170 for a HIV blood sample test. Clearly, these costs may present a financial barrier to some students, and many students are not aware that MCHD offers free STI testing. Since at least one study has shown that college students do not use condoms often, STI testing is the crucial next-line of prevention. Thus, Davidson College should partner with MCHD once again to increase access and affordability of STI testing to all students, and at the very least, list MCHD as a resource to students.

Second, Davidson College should implement HIV health education and resources on campus. The HIV health education can take place during orientation to help students deconstruct preconceived biases and notions because HIV can be contracted by anyone who is sexually active. Furthermore, HIV health education should discuss PrEP as an effective HIV medication and prevention measure since students are not actively getting HIV testing. Access and affordability may be barriers to receiving PrEP, so it will be important to inform students of the Ready, Set, PrEP program funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services as some students may qualify for free PrEP medications. 

Overall I hope that this comprehensive policy can assist Davidson College from simply stating “Protect Yourself From STIs: 1 out of every 2 sexually active people have an STI by age 25” to enacting policies that truly improve student health and well-being.  

References

Stutts, L. A., Robinson, P. A., Witt, B., & Terrell, D. F. (2020). Lost in translation: College students’ knowledge of HIV and PrEP in relation to their sexual health behaviors. Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 1–7. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1757679 

​Free Community STD Testing Locations. (n.d.). MECKNC.GOV. Retrieved December 10, 2021, from https://www.mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/CDControl/HIVSTDSurveillance/Pages/Community-Testing-Sites.aspx 

Ringle, G. (n.d.). FREE STI TESTING. Davidson. Retrieved December 10, 2021, from https://www.davidson.edu/media/937/download 

STI Testing Nurse Clinic. (n.d.). Davidson. Retrieved December 10, 2021, from https://www.davidson.edu/offices-and-services/student-health-and-well-being/health-services/sti-testing-nurse-clininc 

Ready, Set, PrEP. (n.d.). Ready, Set, PrEP: Find Out If You Qualify to Enroll for Free PrEP Medications. Ready Set PrEP. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://readysetprep.hiv.gov/