8. Adolescent Men's Relationship-specific Sexual Health as a Predictor of Condom Non-use

Abstract

“community” risk adolescents (i.e. that of typical neighborhood adolescentmales) and venues capturing adolescentmaleswhomay be at higher STI risk. At each venue, males ages 14-17 were invited to participate in a computer survey of lifetime and recent sexual behaviors, risk behaviors, and STI history, as well as provide a urine sample and an optional anal swab for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomonas DNA-based testing. Descriptive statistics are provided. Results: We enrolled 171 participants at 17 venues (9 parks , 2 apartment complexes and 6 community events). Two participants identified as transgender, the average age was 15.7 / 1.2, and ethnicity was 69.6% African American, 9.9% Latino and 18.8% white. We observed high rates of sexual experience and STI risk behaviors. Lifetime sexual experience included giving oral sex (36.9%), receiving oral sex ( 61.7%), vaginal (68.5%), giving anal sex (17.6%) and receiving anal sex (8.3%). 55.2% of sexually active males had more than two lifetime sex partners. Condom use was more frequent with vaginal sex, compared to oral and anal sex (30.7% always use condom with vaginal sex, 10.4%with oral sex, 7.1%with anal sex, p .05). Other risk behaviors, such asmarijuana use (19.9%), drug use (6.8%) and alcohol use (17.2%) before last sexual encounter, and getting someone pregnant (17, 9.9%) were also common. History of STI testing and diagnoses were uncommon (20.3% report ever being tested, 2.3% ever being told they have an STI). Four (2.4%) were infected with Chlamydia. Conclusions: Venue-based sampling is a mechanism for recruiting and enrolling adolescent males with high STI risk behaviors in community settings. Our high participation rate suggests it is an acceptable and feasible alternative to clinic, school, and other institutionalbased recruitment strategies for STI research. Its community focus makes it ideal for understanding community risk and informing screening and STI prevention interventions. Sources Of Support: NIH R56 1R56AI090393-01 & & K23 HD 049444-01.