Correlates of sexual minority women’s sexual behavior

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sexual minority women (SMW) experience sociocultural barriers to healthcare access and utilization. A common misconception is that SMW are at lower risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Such stereotypes, coupled with prioritization of reproductive health care for heterosexual women and STI prevention for men, contribute to fewer STI testing and appropriate reproductive examinations for SMW. Thus, this study examined SMW’s current sexual behaviors, protective mechanisms, and STI history. Data was collected 2018 and 2019 during a weekend festival. Utilizing the cross-sectional design, 90 surveys were completed. The findings indicated that 70% of respondents were not utilizing protective mechanisms for same-sex behaviors; 13% had never been tested for an STI; and of those tested, 1 in 4 were diagnosed with an STI in their lifetime. Participants that engaged in bisexual behaviors were more likely to engage in genital-to-genital repetitive contact (p < .05). SMW with higher education were more likely to be screened for STIs (p < .01). This study highlights the variation of sexual and testing behaviors that SMW exhibit. Safer sex information and STI testing aimed at SMW should be led by healthcare providers. Thus, a national training curriculum geared toward healthcare providers to promote culturally appropriate care is suggested.