STD and HIV Risk Factors Among U.S. Young Adults: Variations by Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation

Abstract

CONTEXT STDs, including HIV, disproportionately affect individuals who have multiple minority identities. Understanding differences in STD risk factors across racial, ethnic and sexual minority groups, as well as genders, is important for tailoring public health interventions. METHODS Data from Waves 3 (2001–2002) and 4 (2007–2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to develop population-based estimates of STD and HIV risk factors among 11,045 young adults (mean age, 29 at Wave 4), by gender, race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation (heterosexual, mixed-oriented, gay). Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between risk factors and young adults’ characteristics. RESULTS Overall, sexual-minority women in each racial or ethnic group had a higher prevalence of sexual risk behaviors—including a history of multiple partners, forced sex and incarceration—than their heterosexual counterparts. Mixed-oriented women in each racial or ethnic group were more likely than heterosexual white women to have received an STD diagnosis (odds ratios, 1.8–6.4). Black men and sexual-minority men also appeared to be at heightened risk. Gay men in all racial and ethnic groups were significantly more likely than heterosexual white men to report having received an STD diagnosis (2.3–8.3); compared with heterosexual white men, mixed-oriented black men had the highest odds of having received such a diagnosis (15.2). CONCLUSIONS Taking account of multiple minority identities should be an important part of future research and intervention efforts for STD and HIV prevention.

Unintended Pregnancy, Depression, and Hazardous Drinking in a Community-Based Sample of Sexual Minority Women

“…41 Mojola and Everett used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and showed that it is not uncommon for lesbian young adults to report male sexual partners: on average, white lesbians reported 5.5 male partners, black lesbians reported 8.7 male partners, and Latina lesbians reported 5.0 male partners in their lifetime. 42 While, it is possible that some of these heterosexual sexual relationships were the result of forced sex, in light of recent work that highlights the complexity of women's sexuality, 36,43,44 it is likely that many of these relationships were consensual.…”

“…46 Including mostly heterosexual and bisexual samples in studies of SMW's experience of unintended pregnancy is important as previous studies have shown that these subgroups report more sexual risk behaviors, including more male partners than either heterosexual or lesbian identified women. 34,42 Such risk factors have been studied primarily in connection with sexually transmitted infections which also increase risk of unintended pregnancy.…”

Acceptability of Home-Based Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Testing Among a National Sample Of Sexual Minority Young Adults

“…Overall, sexual minority young adults engage in more sexual risk behaviors than do their heterosexual peers. 11,12 Although current reportable disease surveillance systems do not routinely collect data on sexual orientation, previous research suggests that bisexual young adults of both genders are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to report any STD diagnosis. [12][13][14] Gay and bisexual men, in particular, are at increased risk of having an STD, including chlamydia and gonorrhea; furthermore, HIV-positive men are more likely than others to have these STDs.…”

Factores relacionados con el insuficiente control de la infección por el VIH en la Cohorte Española VACH

“…*  Factor de riesgo de infección por el VIH, sexual, parenteral u otro [43]. *  Tiempo transcurrido entre el inicio de la exposición al VIH y el diagnóstico de la infección por el VIH, en años.…”