(P203) ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN STATE-LEVEL SEXUAL EDUCATION POLICIES AND SAFER SEX BEHAVIORS AMONG YOUNG ADULT BLACK WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES

Background:
HIV/STI and comprehensive sexual education curricula intend to promote safer sex behaviors. We examined direct and indirect effects of state-level sexual education policies on young adult Black women’s safer sex behaviors.

Methods:
An online U.S. sample of young adult Black cisgender women (N = 363; 18–22 years) participated in a sexual health survey in 2023. State-level sexual education policies were sourced from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. Four latent variable models estimated for condom use and STI testing assessed direct and indirect effects of state-level HIV/STI and comprehensive curriculum requirements. Mediators included self-reported sexual education experience (latent variable of topics discussed in and perceived quality of their sexual education), sexual self-efficacy, and sexual subjectivity. Participant age was included as a covariate.

Results:
Most participants (71%) lived in states with HIV/STI curriculum requirements, and 18% lived in states with comprehensive curriculum requirements. Half (46%) used condoms at last vaginal sex event, and 70% received an STI test in the last year. Age was positively associated with STI testing in both models (β = .28, B = .10, p < .001). Condom use was not significantly associated with age. There were no direct or mediated effects of either policy on condom use or STI testing. Sexual education experience had a direct effect on condom use in both models (β = .18, B = .25, p = .01). Sexual education experience had a direct effect on STI testing in the HIV/STI curriculum model (β = .13, B = .17, p = .05), but not in the comprehensive curriculum model.

Conclusion:
State-level sexual education curriculum policies were not associated with recommended condom use and STI testing behaviors among young adult Black women; most likely due to varied implementation of state-level sexual education policies. Curriculum standards are needed.