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We examined the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual health, sexual behaviour, well-being, and access to sexual health services among university students in Canada. Between December 2020 and January 2021, 1504 university students across Canada completed an online survey focused on overall sexual health, well-being, solitary sexual behaviours, partnered sexual interactions, and access to sexual health services. The survey was designed by the Sex Information & Education Council of Canada and administered by the Leger polling company. Reported levels of overall sexual health were high. Cisgender women reported significantly greater scores of COVID-19—related stress compared to cisgender men; LGBQ+ students had higher levels of stress compared to heterosexual participants. Overall, solitary sexual behaviours (i.e., masturbation, porn use, vibrator use) remained unchanged or were perceived to increase compared to the time before the pandemic. Cisgender men reported higher scores (i.e., greater perceived increases) on masturbation and porn use than cisgender women. Frequency of sex with casual partners was perceived as similar or lower than what was usual before the pandemic, and most participants did not engage in sex where the close personal contact put them or their partner at risk for COVID-19. Declines in access were reported for all sexual health care services surveyed, with cisgender women and students of colour more likely to report decreased access to services. Results highlight the need for targeted public health messaging regarding sexual behaviour, investment in sexual health services, and supports tailored to the needs of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to extend existing research concerning HPV vaccination rates, sexual behaviour practices, and risk of HPV-related morbidity and mortality among Canadian university students. A survey research firm recruited an online sample of Canadian university students between 18 and 24 years of age and from across Canada for a study of student sexual health. The current report represents a secondary analysis of responses to this sexual health survey that is focused on HPV morbidity risk. An analysis sample of 1,412 university students responded to an assessment of demographic characteristics, HPV vaccination status (vaccinated or unvaccinated), and recent and lifetime sexual behaviours and condom use. Conservative estimates indicated that approximately one-quarter of university student women, at least two-thirds of university student men, and at least one-third of trans/non-binary university students had not been vaccinated against HPV. Recent and lifetime sexual behaviours of HPV vaccinated and HPV unvaccinated university students were strikingly similar. HPV unvaccinated status, HPV-risk sexual behaviour, and HPV-related morbidity and mortality risk were very common in this national sample of Canadian university students. Cost-free catch-up HPV vaccination programs for unvaccinated university students are urgently needed to mitigate substantial HPV-related health risks in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental/guardian support can be a key input for policy decision-making for sexual health education curriculum development and it is, therefore, critical to examine parental/guardian attitudes towards the principles underlying comprehensive sexual health education. The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education (SIECCAN, 2019) specify nine Core Principles of Comprehensive Sexual Health Education that should inform the planning and delivery of sexual health education programs. This study examines parental/guardian attitudes towards the Core Principles and determines whether attitudes vary based on demographic and regional variables. Two thousand parents/guardians from across Canada completed an online questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics and overall agreement with each of the Core Principles. There was strong consensus among parents/guardians; 73% to 85% support the inclusion of the nine Core Principles in the planning and development of sexual health education programs. We tested agreement with Core Principles in two ways: first using averaged scores across all Core Principle items, then across individual Core Principles. We found some statistically significant effects based on parent/guardian gender, educational attainment, region of residence, and importance of religion, however all effect sizes were small (between 1%–4% variance accounted for) suggesting these were not particularly meaningful. Therefore, findings demonstrate parental/guardian support across Canada for the Core Principles of Comprehensive Sexual Health Education. Understanding parents'/guardians' attitudes towards the philosophical underpinnings of sexual health education provides policymakers with a firmer understanding of parental perspectives which may be particularly salient as new issues emerge in public discourse about the content of sexual health education in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]