Sexual Behaviors and Reproductive Responsibility Among Young Black Men at an HBCU: A Qualitative Study

Sexual and reproductive health research has often centered women’s contraceptive and pregnancy-related experiences, while young men’s perspectives on sexual behavior, STI prevention, and reproductive responsibility remain less visible. This qualitative study explored how young Black heterosexual college men understood sexual health knowledge, masculinity, STI risk, condom use, pregnancy prevention, and readiness for fatherhood. Thirteen self-identified Black college men aged 19–22 years participated in individual semi-structured interviews at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in the southern United States. Interviews were conducted online, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: fragmented sexual health knowledge and informal learning; learning masculinity through sexual socialization and developing sexual autonomy; experiential learning, STI stigma, and the negotiation of sexual risk; and reproductive responsibility and pregnancy prevention. Participants described limited formal sexual health education, peer and media influences on masculinity, risk judgments shaped by trust and familiarity, and stronger concern for pregnancy prevention than for STI prevention. Findings suggest that sexual health education and campus-based prevention should engage young Black men as reproductive actors with distinct needs, responsibilities, and relational contexts. Programs should integrate STI prevention, condom counseling, partner communication, alcohol-related risk reduction, and reproductive-intention counseling into male-centered, stigma-sensitive approaches.