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A new study published in the
November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that the
social networking site, Facebook, may help prevent the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs). The study, conducted by University of Colorado
researchers, recruited 1,578 young adults ages 18 to 24 and divided them into
two groups. The first group was asked to “Like” and receive news from a
sexual-health Facebook page called Just/Us, which shared articles about condom
use and STD testing. The other group followed a Facebook page called 18-24
News, which provided general news items targeted to young adults.
A survey conducted two months later
found that 68 percent of those signed up for the sexual advice site had used
condoms during their last sexual encounter, while only 56 percent of those
signed up for the general news site had used a condom during their last sexual
encounter. No difference in condom use between the two groups was found after
six months, however.
Lead researcher Sheana Bull,
professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, explained that the study is
“a first step in considering how to reach the overwhelming numbers of youth
online.” She believes that such studies will assist in “maximize[ing]
approaches to technology-based interventions.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
