A comprehensive examination of the health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of students attending historically black colleges and universities.
There is limited information about African American students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the areas of health behavior, health knowledge, and attitudes. To fill this gap, a comprehensive examination offirst-year students was undertaken at a consortium of HBCUs. A non-random sample of 1115 freshmen were administered a survey that assessed several domains including: (1) demographics, (2) general health, (3) smoking habits, (4) disease risk, (5) weight perception, (6) physical activity, (7) perceived stress, (8) eating habits, (9) social support, (10) personal/family medical history, (11) leadership, (12) domestic violence, (13) substance use, and (14) sexual behavior. In general, most students knew about health behaviors and disease risk. Areas that warrant further exploration include physical activity, sexual behavior, and drug use. The analyses provide key information for health education and prevention.
Hayes
Brenda D
BD
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. bhayes@msm.edu
Holliday
Rhonda Conerly
RC
Wade
Bruce H
BH
Trawick
Cynthia
C
Hodge
Michael
M
Caplan
Lee
L
Younge
Sinead
S
Quarshie
Alexander
A
Satcher
David
D
D001741:Black or African American; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017579:Domestic Violence; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013337:Students, Medical; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology