Abstract
ContextThere are few UK data on the prevalence and clustering of risky behaviours in ethnically diverse adolescents.ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of reported alcohol use, smoking and vaping, and explore whether these behaviours are associated with increased numbers of sexual partners.DesignQuestionnaire survey of ‘Test n Treat’ chlamydia screening trial participants.Setting and participantsSexually active students attending six London technical colleges completed confidential questionnaires and provided genitourinary samples.ResultsThe median age of the 509 participants was 17 years (IQR: 16‐18), 47% were male, 50% were of black ethnicity, 55% reported ≥2 sexual partners in the past year (67% of males and 45% of females) and 6.2% had chlamydia infection and 0.6% gonorrhoea. Almost half (48%) reported getting drunk in the past month, 33% smoked cigarettes and 7% had ever vaped.A larger percentage of students with ≥2 sexual partners than 0‐1 partners reported getting drunk in the past month (53.7%, 144/268% versus 42.2% 94/223, adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.11‐1.61) and smoking cigarettes (36.6%, 100/273% versus 30.2%, 67/222, 1.34 (1.05‐1.70)). By contrast, multiple sexual partners were not associated with vaping or chlamydia infection, but numbers were small.ConclusionsWe found high prevalences of risky behaviour and an association between multiple sexual partners and smoking and/or getting drunk. Findings support the introduction of compulsory sex and relationship education in UK secondary schools, including information about the adverse effects of alcohol and smoking.Public contributionParticipants helped with study design, conduct and interpretation.
Highlights
There is on-going concern in many countries that increasing numbers of young adults undertake risky behaviours including getting drunk, cigarette smoking, vaping and having multiple sexual partners.1-3 In addition, many reports show that risky behaviours tend to cluster together.[1,2,4] A population-based survey of British young people aged 16-24 found participants reporting weekly or more frequent binge drinking (≥ weekly) or recent drug use were more likely to report one or more new sexual partners in the past year.[5]
Using cross-sectional, baseline data from the ‘Test and treat’ (TnT) feasibility trial, we examined the prevalence of reported alcohol use, smoking and vaping, and explored possible associations with numbers of sexual partners (≥2 versus 0-1) within the past year
Reporting multiple sexual partners was more common in males than females (66.5% vs 44.9%, prevalence ratio: 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-1.74]) and in those of non-white rather than white ethnicity (58.0% vs 48.1%, 1.21 (0.99-1.47))
Summary
There is on-going concern in many countries that increasing numbers of young adults undertake risky behaviours including getting drunk, cigarette smoking, vaping (using electronic cigarettes) and having multiple sexual partners.1-3 In addition, many reports show that risky behaviours tend to cluster together.[1,2,4] A population-based survey of British young people aged 16-24 found participants reporting weekly or more frequent binge drinking (≥ weekly) or recent drug use (within the past 4 weeks) were more likely to report one or more new sexual partners in the past year.[5]. There are few UK data on the extent of clustering of risky behaviours, in inner-city, ethnically diverse adolescents[6,7]; there have been calls for more studies of substance use and sexual behaviour in teenagers.[2,5,8] Adolescence is a key stage in life when unhealthy habits are most often established,[9] and these can lead to health inequalities later in life.[1,10]
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