Paper Title
Sexual Behavior Among Adolescent Women at High Risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections
Keywords
- sexual behavior
- adolescent women
- sexually transmitted infections
- stds
- partner sequence
- partner overlap
- high-risk behavior
- coital diary
- sexual partners
- neisseria gonorrhoeae
- chlamydia trachomatis
- trichomonas vaginalis
- std clinics
- adolescent health clinics
- longitudinal study
- sexual encounters
- partner choice
- infection transmission
- sexual health
- reproductive health
- sexual activity patterns
- relationship dynamics
- std prevention
- public health
- risk factors
- urban adolescents
- sexual health education
- safe sex practices
- condom use
- partner behavior
- health disparities
- youth sexual behavior
- infection rates
- epidemiology
- sexual network
- partner transitions
- relationship gaps
- health interventions
- behavioral patterns
- adolescent risk factors
- healthcare access
- disease transmission
- sexual relationship trends
- preventative healthcare
- health outcomes
- sexual decision-making
- adolescent healthcare services
- health policy
- clinical research
Article Type
Research Article
Journal
Publication Info
Volume: 28 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 247-251
Published On
May, 2001
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Abstract
Background The temporal pattern of partners and sexual encounters may be key factors in the acquisition and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Behavior among adolescent women is of particular interest because they frequently have the highest prevalence and incidence of infection. Goal To examine coital diary data collected during a 7-month longitudinal study of young women at high risk of STDs and to describe their sexual behaviors, with particular attention to issues of partner sequence and overlap. Study Design A 7-month longitudinal study of young women infected with or having a sexual contact infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or Trichomonas vaginalis attending the STD clinic or one of four neighborhood adolescent health clinics. Data were collected at enrollment and at 1, 3, 5, and 7-month follow-up visits. Coital diaries were kept between visits. Results The average frequency of coital events was 0.94 per week. The median number of sexual partners during the follow-up period was one, and overlapping of partnerships was an uncommon occurrence. The number of days between the last coital event of a current relationship and the first encounter of a new relationship differed for those choosing a new partner (mean, 20.6 days) and those who returned to a previous partner (mean, 7.9 days;P < 0.001). Conclusion Although at high risk for STDs, high-risk behavior was not common among the study population. Partner choice and the behavior of these partners may be more important elements than personal high-risk behavior in accounting for the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among inner-city adolescent women.
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