Schlehofer
First Name
Deirdre
Last Name
Schlehofer
Department
Liberal Studies
Scholarship Year
2025
Research Center
Non-Center Based
Scholarship Type
Journal Paper
Contributors List
Deirdre Schlehofer, Kendall Miller
Project Title
NTID Student Research Microgrant
Start Date - Month
January
Start Date - Year
2024
End Date Anticipated - Month
January
End Date Anticipated - Year
2024
End Date Actual - Month
April
End Date Actual - Year
2025
Review Types
Blind Peer Reviewed
Student Assistance
Undergraduate
Funding Source
Grant
Resulting Product
Submitted Manuscript
Citation

Miller, Kendall and Deirdre Schlehofer. "Contraceptive Use and STI Screening Knowledge Among Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Hearing Women." Journal of Student Research. (2025): 25-35. Web. *

Abstract

This study investigates disparities in sexual health knowledge, access to contraceptive use, sexually transmitted infections screenings, and the availability of accurate healthcare information amongst deaf/hard-of-hearing and hearing female college students. Twenty-four deaf/hard-of-hearing and 46 hearing participants (ages 18–27) completed a survey comparing sexual health knowledge and practice. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether college-aged deaf women had an understanding equivalent to college-aged hearing women regarding sexual health, contraceptive use, and testing. The survey results reveal areas where health literacy can be improved, particularly for deaf/hard of hearing women facing language barriers in accessing educational resources. With this information, suggestions and solutions can be made to improve access to medical information for linguistic minorities, highlighting the urgent need to address health disparities. Findings indicate that hearing participants overall reported greater sexual activity and higher condom use than deaf/hard of hearing women. Hormonal birth control use was lower among deaf/hard of hearing women participants, with many reporting that they lacked sufficient access to birth control. First language use impacted sexual risk behaviors, with hearing participants raised in foreign language environments reporting lower contraceptive use and no STI testing. Language-deprived deaf and hard-of-hearing women also displayed differences in sexual health and risk behaviors. These differences may reflect disparities in access to language-appropriate sexual health education.

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