Pathways to Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviors: Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure

Highlights

• Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) was related to adolescent sexual risk.
• PCE is related to externalizing behavior, which increased early sexual intercourse.
• Substance use was related to early sexual intercourse and sexual risk behaviors.
• Reducing maternal drug use may mitigate offspring sexual risk behavior.

BACKGROUND:

To assess the impact of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on adolescent sexual risk behaviors. Externalizing behavior, teen substance use, and early sexual intercourse were examined as pathways mediating the effects of PCE on sexual risk behaviors.

METHODS:

Adolescents (N=364; 185 PCE, 179 non-cocaine exposure (NCE); 205 girls, 159 boys), primarily African-American and of low socioeconomic status, were prospectively enrolled in a longitudinal study at birth. Risky sexual behaviors were assessed at ages 15 and 17. Externalizing behavior at 12 years was assessed with the Youth Self-Report. Substance use, via self-report and biologic assays, and early (before age 15) sexual intercourse were assessed at age 15. Path analyses with the weighted least squares estimator with mean and variance adjustments were performed.

RESULTS:

The final structural equation model-based path model, χ(2)=31.97 (df=27), p=.23, CFI=.99, TLI=.99, RMSEA=.021, WRMR=.695, indicated a direct effect of PCE on sexual risk behavior (β=.16, p=.02). Although PCE was related to greater externalizing behavior (β=.14, p=.009), which in turn, predicted early sexual intercourse (β=.16, p=.03), leading to sexual risk behavior (β=.44, p<.001), bootstrapping indicated a non-significant indirect effect (β=.01, p>.10). Substance use was correlated with early sexual intercourse (r=.60, p<.001) and predicted sexual risk behavior by age 17 (β=.31, p=.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Prenatal cocaine exposure was related to more engagement in sexual risk behaviors, suggesting the importance of reducing substance use among pregnant women as a means of prevention of offspring substance use and sexual risk behavior.

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By:  Min MO1, Minnes S2, Lang A2, Albert JM3, Kim JY2, Singer LT4.

• 1Case Western Reserve University, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United States. Electronic address: meeyoung.min@case.edu.
• 2Case Western Reserve University, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United States.
• 3School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cleveland, OH, United States.
• 4Departments of Environmental Health Sciences, Psychiatry & Pediatrics, Cleveland, OH, United States. 
• Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Apr 1;161:284-91. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.02.013. Epub 2016 Feb 16.

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High Risk Sex Behaviors and Associated Factors in Young Men in Chengdu

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the prevalence of high risk sex behaviors and associated factors in 18-34 years old men in Chengdu. Methods An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted in 18-34 years old men selected by multi-stage random sampling in Chengdu. Data of 1536 respondents who reported having sex contacts were analyzed.

RESULTS:

23.6% of respondents had multiple sex partners in the past 12 months; 11.8% were involved commercial sex; 9.0% had group sex; 4. 7% had anal sex; 15.6% had never used a condom; 37.7% had sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status [married, standardized partial regression coefficient (B) = -0.086, P<0.05] , level of education (bachelor or above, B= -0.063, P<0.05), frequency of exposure to pornography (B=0.058, P<0.05), childhood sexual abuse (B= 0.042, P<0.05), first sexual intercourse at an earlier age (B=0.162, P<0.05), frequency of sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs (B=0.054, P<0.05) were significant predictors of having multiplesexual partners. Sexual orientation, age, smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, anxiety, depression, childhood physical abuse did not appear to be significant factors associated with having multiple sexual partners.

CONCLUSION:

Having multiple sexual partners is the main high risk sex behavior of young men in Chengdu. Childhood sexual abuse and early start of sexual intercourse are the major predictors of having multiple sexual partners.

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Via: [No authors listed]

Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2015 Nov;46(6):866-70.  

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Demographic Characteristics and Risk Factors in Turkish Patients with Anogenital Warts

Anogenital warts (AGW) are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. The determination of groups vulnerable to contracting anogenital warts (AGW) leads to the development of policies for disease control and of prevention programs. The aim of our study was to investigate the demographical features and risk factors of Turkish patients with AGW. 

This study included 200 patients with AGW and 200 healthy individuals as a control group. The age, gender, education and marital status, age of first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, sexual orientation, and smoking status were recorded in both groups. In this study, 88% of the patients were male, and 12% were female. The mean age of the patients was 35.21±0.77 years, and the majority of patients were below 35 years old (63%). Furthermore, 46.0% of the patients were educated at the university level, and 33.5% had graduated high school. 

No significant differences were found based on sexual orientation or condoms between the patient and control groups. In the patient group, the mean age of first sexual intercourse was significantly earlier, and the number of single individuals and sexual partners were significantly higher. Also, 61% of the patients were current smokers, which was significantly higher than the control group. The duration of smoking and the duration of AGW were found to be correlated. All patients were tested for anti-HIV antibodies, and only one patient was found to be infected. AGW were more common in patients younger than 35 years old, among men, and among those who had graduated from high school or university. 

Early age of first sexual intercourse, a high number of sexual partners, being single, and smoking were also risk factors for the development of anogenital warts.

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By:  Tamer E1, Çakmak SK2, İlhan MN3, Artüz F4.

• 1Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Turkey. Electronic address: eminettamer@yahoo.com.tr.
• 2Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Turkey.
• 3Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Public Health & Occupational Health, Turkey. Electronic address: mnilhan@gazi.edu.tr.
• 4Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Turkey. Electronic address: ferdaartuz@yahoo.com 

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Disability and the Context of Boys' First Sexual Intercourse

Purpose

The context in which first sexual intercourse takes place has lasting implications for subsequent sexual behavior. This study examines how adolescent disability associates with boys' age of sexual debut, relationship at first sexual intercourse, degree of discussion about birth control before first sexual intercourse, and contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse.

Methods

Data were used from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally representative survey collected annually in the United States. Multinomial logistic regression of a base sample of 2,737 boys examines the likelihood of (1) sexual debut at ages 12–14, 15–17, or ≥18 years; (2) first intercourse with a stranger, casual acquaintance, dating partner, in a committed relationship, or in an undefined relationship; (3) level of discussion about birth control; (4) contraception; and (5) condom use among those who contracept.

Results

Compared to boys without disability, those with learning or emotional conditions are more likely—and those with sensory conditions are less likely—to report very early sexual debut. Boys with chronic illness are both more likely to have sex in a committed relationship and in an undefined relationship and also more likely to contracept at first intercourse. Boys with learning or emotional conditions are more likely to discuss birth control but less likely to use condoms if they do contracept.

Conclusions

Boys with and without disabilities—and boys with different types of disabilities—vary significantly in multiple aspects of their first sexual experiences. It is pertinent that sexual health interventions are tailored to address this diversity.

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By:   Carrie L. Shandra, Masra Shameem, M.P.H., Sadaf J. Ghori, M.P.H.

Department of Sociology/Program in Public Health, State University of New York at Stony Brook (http://publichealth.stonybrookmedicine.edu/), Stony Brook, New York

Correspondence

Address correspondence to: Carrie L. Shandra, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794-4356. 

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Sexually Transmitted Infections & First Sexual Intercourse Age in Adolescents: The Nationwide Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major causes of medical and psychological problems globally, while adolescents in South Korea have recently shown rapid changes in sexual behaviors.

AIMS:

We aimed to examine the association between the age of first sexual intercourse and the experience of STIs among adolescents. Additionally, in which specific time period would more likely to get infected from sexual intercourse.

METHODS:

We used data from the 2007-2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Only adolescents with sexual intercourse experience (N = 22,381) were included, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

One dichotomized measure and one continuous measure were assessed: (i) STIs experience (defined as having had STIs); and (ii) association between STIs experience and absolute age gap (defined as temporal differences between secondary sexual character emergence age and first sexual intercourse age).

RESULTS:

Approximately 7.4% of boys and 7.5% of girls reported had STI. For both boys and girls, the chance of experiencing STIs increased as the age of first sexual intercourse decreased (boys: before elementary school [age 7 or under]: odds ratio [OR] = 10.81, first grade [age 7 or 8]: OR = 4.44, second grade [age 8 or 9]: OR = 8.90, fourth grade [age 10 or 11]: OR = 7.20, ninth grade [age 15 or 16]: OR = 2.31; girls: before elementary school: OR = 18.09, first grade: OR = 7.26, second grade: OR = 7.12, fourth grade: OR = 8.93, ninth grade: OR = 2.74). The association between the absolute age gap and STI experience was examined additionally (boys: OR = 0.93, girls: OR = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study shows that earlier initiation of sexual intercourse increases the odds of experiencing STIs. Also as the age gap gets shorter, the odds of experiencing STIs increase. Our study suggests that it is important to consider the time period of first sexual intercourse and to reinforce a monitoring system along with the development of other preventive strategies. 

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/5Ky2q7

By:   Lee SY1,2, Lee HJ2,3, Kim TK2,3, Lee SG2,4, Park EC2,5.

• 1Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
• 2Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
• 3Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
• 4Department of Hospital Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
• 5Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 

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