Risk Behaviours In Young People Research Articles

Social media use and health risk behaviours in young people: systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo examine the association between social media use and health risk behaviours in adolescents (defined as those 10-19 years).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesEMBASE, Medline, APA PsycINFO, SocINDEX, CINAHL, SSRN, SocArXic,...

Change of risk behaviour in young people\xa0\u2013 the effectiveness of the trauma prevention programme P.A.R.T.Y. considering the effect of fear appeals and cognitive processes

BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of the injury awareness and prevention programme P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) in Germany. On a designated P.A R.T.Y. day, school classes spend a day in a trauma hospital experiencing the various wards through which a seriously injured person goes. A further goal of the study was to reveal indications of the programme’s mechanism of action by testing theory-based impact models of fear appeals and cognitive beliefs.MethodsIn a quasi-experimental longitudinal study with three measurement times the participants of 19 P.A.R.T.Y. days (n = 330), as well as pupils who did not attend the programme (n = 244), were interviewed with a standardised questionnaire. They reported risk behaviour, feelings of threat and cognitive beliefs about road traffic. The data were analysed using a meta-analytical approach to estimate an average effect size across the different P.A.R.T.Y. days. Path models were used to identify possible mechanisms of action.ResultsFor most of the parameters, small positive effects could be proven immediately after the P.A.R.T.Y. intervention. However, after four to 5 months only one statistically significant effect was found. Using path analytical models, important predictors for behavioural changes (e.g. self-efficacy) could be identified. But for these predictors no or only short-term effects were observed in the meta-analysis.ConclusionsFear appeals as used primarily in the P.A.R.T.Y. programme appear to cause behavioural changes only to a limited extent and only in the short-term, especially if the strengthening of psychosocial resources is not given sufficient consideration. The participants must also cognitively process the experiences in the hospital. Accordingly, consideration should be given to how the P.A.R.T.Y. program could be adapted to complement the fear appeal with cognitive components.

Parent–child conversations associated with alcohol-related risk behaviours in young people (13–17 years) in the UK: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo investigate different types of parent–child conversations associated with young people’s (13–17 years) alcohol-related risk behaviours.DesignSecondary analysis of the 2016 Drinkaware Monitor Survey. This survey employed a cross-sectional design and...

Individual-, family-, and school-level interventions targeting multiple risk behaviours in young people.

Individual-, family-, and school-level interventions targeting multiple risk behaviours in young people.

Identification of eating disorder symptoms in Danish adolescents with the SCOFF questionnaire

Background: Eating disorders often develop in adolescence and, therefore, instruments are needed that are useful to detect risk behaviour in young people. The SCOFF is a 5-item screening instrument, named SCOFF as an acronym of keywords from the questions. It has been used widely in adult samples, but studies that evaluate the scale in adolescents are missing.Aims: The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the SCOFF in adolescents aged 11–20 years and for the first time validate the questionnaire in Danish.Methods: A total of 184 adolescents completed the Danish version of the SCOFF and sub-scales from the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3). The sample consisted of 87 patients (mean age = 16) from a specialized eating disorder department in the Region of Southern Denmark and 97 healthy adolescents (mean age = 17) from Danish primary and high schools.Results: It was found that the reliability of the SCOFF was acceptable, and that cut-off 2 is useful to detect those with potential eating disorder pathology. Item 3 (weight loss) correlated poorly with EDI-3 sub-scales and might be reformulated by addressing the intentionality behind weight loss (due to unhappiness with body) rather than a specific amount of weight loss (1 stone), because this could have somatic reasons.Conclusions: The SCOFF is a very easily applicable questionnaire, which may fulfil the necessary psychometric properties for detection of ED symptoms in Danish adolescents. Before general screening can be recommended, conditions regarding benefits and potential adverse effects still remain to be addressed.

Zdravstveni, socijalni i demografski aspekti nekih rizičnih ponašanja mladih

Development of international traffic and tourism, migration of working society, spread of drug addiction disease and subsequent global economic crisis, unemployement as will as troubles in solving everyday existentional problems in young people gradually contributed to unadaptability, disturbance and even to the breakdown of traditional rules of behaviour within families and social surrounding. The wide influx of personal computers in home and schools has enabled to young generation earlier access to various knowledges including those relating sexuality. It has contributed to the earlier sexual maturity and sexual contacts in younger period of life. Alienation from family and replacement of her influence with the feeling of belonging to the persons of same age, exposure to various risky behaviours (smoking, alcohol, drug addiction, unprotected sexual contacts, gambling), especially dangerous for girls (diseases of reproductive organs, undesirable gravidity, abortus, sterility, break up of schooling and disturbances of social relations). The worrysome fact is the highest abortion rate in adolescent girls in Europe (together with Great Britain). Health education to prevent risk behaviour in young people should be performed in schools in pre­adolescent period (fifth class of elementary) school respectively in age before experiencing first sexual contact. Every pupil has at least one teacher, some students do not have parents, however, not every parent is interested or capable in opening such a delicate subject with his child. Corresponding educational programme integrated in teaching curricula of elementary schools will contribute to positive demographic development in Serbia.

OC-087 Frequency of Health Risk Behaviours in Young People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Introduction Young people (YP) with any chronic illness are 3 times more likely to engage in health risk behaviours (HRBs) than healthy peers.1 HRBs are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and are associated with poor self-management skills in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of HRBs in YP with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods YP aged 16–22 years with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD were recruited from a paediatric and adult IBD centre. Participants completed The Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS)–adapted, with demographic, disease and treatment-related data. Results 121 patients were studied (75 (62%) CD, 39 (32%) UC, 7 (6%) IBDU), median age 19 years (range 16–22 years). Eight HRBs were identified including; 1) daily smoking in 15/117 (13%); 2) current alcohol misuse in 58/117 (49%); 3) current cannabis use in 12/117 (10%); 4) current use of other illegal drug in 20/121 (17%) with 39/118 (33%) offered, given or sold illegal drugs in the preceding 12 months; 5) previous sexual activity in 71/118 (59%), of whom 25/71 (35%) ≥4 previous sexual partners and 40/71 (56%) without condom use; 6) violent acts with physical fights in 8/118 (7%) and forced sexual intercourse in 5/118 (4%); 7) drink driving in 6/119 (5%) and texting whilst driving 14/118 (12%); 8) suicidal ideation in 9/118 (9%) and attempted suicide in 2/118 (2%). Of these HRBs, males were significantly more likely to participate in current illegal drug use (14/60 vs. 6/61) (P = 0.02) and drink driving (6/59 vs. 0/59) (P = 0.03). YP aged ≥19-22years were significantly more likely to participate in current illegal drug use (15/65 vs 5/56) (P = 0.05), ≥4 sexual partners (21/45 vs. 4/26) (P = 0.01), without condom use (31/45 vs. 9/26) (P = 0.007) and to text whilst driving (13/64 vs. 1/54) (P = 0.003) compared to YP aged 16- Conclusion In YP with IBD high levels of alcohol misuse and illegal drug use are observed compared to other chronic health conditions and healthy peers.1 Clinician awareness of HRBs is vital for both paediatric and adult healthcare providers, with specific YP training for discussion of HRBs needed. Research is needed to understand factors which predispose YP with IBD to participate in HRBs, the impact on disease severity, and possible related outcomes such as psychological distress/morbidity that may have significant long-term health economic implications. Reference 1 Suris JC, et al. Paediatrics 2008; 122(5):e113–elll8. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Is sexual content in new media linked to sexual risk behaviour in young people? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Social networking and digital media increasingly have an impact on the lives of young people. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that examined the relationship between exposure to sexually explicit websites (SEWs) and 'sexting' (i.e. sending semi-nude or nude photos from a mobile phone) and the sexual attitudes and practices of young people. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses statement, Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched for papers that described the statistical association between viewing SEWs or sexting by young people (defined as 10-24 years) and their sexual attitudes and behaviours. Fourteen studies, all cross-sectional in design, met the inclusion criteria. Six studies (10352 participants) examined young people's exposure to SEWs and eight (10429 participants) examined sexting. There was substantial variation across studies in exposure and outcome definitions. Meta-analyses found that SEW exposure was correlated with condomless sexual intercourse (odds ratio (OR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.38, two studies); sexting was correlated with ever having had sexual intercourse (OR 5.58, 95% CI: 4.46-6.71, five studies), recent sexual activity (OR 4.79, 95% CI: 3.55-6.04, two studies), alcohol and other drug use before sexual intercourse (OR 2.65, 95% CI: 1.99-3.32, two studies) and multiple recent sexual partners (OR 2.79, 95% CI: 1.95-3.63, two studies). Most studies had limited adjustment for important potential confounders. Cross-sectional studies show a strong association between self-reported exposure to sexual content in new media and sexual behaviours in young people. Longitudinal studies would provide a greater opportunity to adjust for confounding, and better insight into the causal pathways underlying the observed associations.

Physical Health Risk Behaviours in Young People with Mental Illness

Comorbid physical health conditions, commonly associated with mental illness, contribute to increased morbidity and reduced life expectancy. The trajectory to poorer health begins with the onset of mental illness. For young people with mental illness, health risk behaviours and poor physical health can progress to adulthood with long-term detrimental impacts. Using a cross-sectional survey design, self-reported health risk behaviours were gathered from 56 young (16–25 years) Australians who had been hospitalised for mental illness and taking psychotropic medication. Smoking, alcohol use, minimal physical activity, and lack of primary health care were evident. While these behaviours are typical of many young people, those with mental illness have substantially increased vulnerability to poor health and reduced life expectancy. Priority needs to be given to targeted health promotion strategies for young people with mental illness to modify their risky long-term health behaviours and improve morbidity and mortality outcomes. Nurses in mental health settings play a vital role in promoting young peoples’ well-being and preventing poorer physical health outcomes. Implementation of a cardiometabolic health nurse role in inpatient settings for young people with mental illness could facilitate prevention and early intervention for health risk behaviours.

Responding to Young People's Health Risks in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomised Trial of Training Clinicians in Screening and Motivational Interviewing.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention implementing best practice guidelines recommending clinicians screen and counsel young people across multiple psychosocial risk factors, on clinicians’ detection of health risks and patients’ risk taking behaviour, compared to a didactic seminar on young people’s health.DesignPragmatic cluster randomised trial where volunteer general practices were stratified by postcode advantage or disadvantage score and billing type (private, free national health, community health centre), then randomised into either intervention or comparison arms using a computer generated random sequence. Three months post-intervention, patients were recruited from all practices post-consultation for a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview and followed up three and 12 months later. Researchers recruiting, consenting and interviewing patients and patients themselves were masked to allocation status; clinicians were not.SettingGeneral practices in metropolitan and rural Victoria, AustraliaParticipantsGeneral practices with at least one interested clinician (general practitioner or nurse) and their 14–24 year old patients.InterventionThis complex intervention was designed using evidence based practice in learning and change in clinician behaviour and general practice systems, and included best practice approaches to motivating change in adolescent risk taking behaviours. The intervention involved training clinicians (nine hours) in health risk screening, use of a screening tool and motivational interviewing; training all practice staff (receptionists and clinicians) in engaging youth; provision of feedback to clinicians of patients’ risk data; and two practice visits to support new screening and referral resources. Comparison clinicians received one didactic educational seminar (three hours) on engaging youth and health risk screening.Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes were patient report of (1) clinician detection of at least one of six health risk behaviours (tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, risks for sexually transmitted infection, STI, unplanned pregnancy, and road risks); and (2) change in one or more of the six health risk behaviours, at three months or at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were likelihood of future visits, trust in the clinician after exit interview, clinician detection of emotional distress and fear and abuse in relationships, and emotional distress at three and 12 months. Patient acceptability of the screening tool was also described for the intervention arm. Analyses were adjusted for practice location and billing type, patients’ sex, age, and recruitment method, and past health risks, where appropriate. An intention to treat analysis approach was used, which included multilevel multiple imputation for missing outcome data.Results42 practices were randomly allocated to intervention or comparison arms. Two intervention practices withdrew post allocation, prior to training, leaving 19 intervention (53 clinicians, 377 patients) and 21 comparison (79 clinicians, 524 patients) practices. 69% of patients in both intervention (260) and comparison (360) arms completed the 12 month follow-up. Intervention clinicians discussed more health risks per patient (59.7%) than comparison clinicians (52.7%) and thus were more likely to detect a higher proportion of young people with at least one of the six health risk behaviours (38.4% vs 26.7%, risk difference [RD] 11.6%, Confidence Interval [CI] 2.93% to 20.3%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.7, CI 1.1 to 2.5). Patients reported less illicit drug use (RD -6.0, CI -11 to -1.2; OR 0·52, CI 0·28 to 0·96), and less risk for STI (RD -5.4, CI -11 to 0.2; OR 0·66, CI 0·46 to 0·96) at three months in the intervention relative to the comparison arm, and for unplanned pregnancy at 12 months (RD -4.4; CI -8.7 to -0.1; OR 0·40, CI 0·20 to 0·80). No differences were detected between arms on other health risks. There were no differences on secondary outcomes, apart from a greater detection of abuse (OR 13.8, CI 1.71 to 111). There were no reports of harmful events and intervention arm youth had high acceptance of the screening tool.ConclusionsA complex intervention, compared to a simple educational seminar for practices, improved detection of health risk behaviours in young people. Impact on health outcomes was inconclusive. Technology enabling more efficient, systematic health-risk screening may allow providers to target counselling toward higher risk individuals. Further trials require more power to confirm health benefits.Trial RegistrationISRCTN.com ISRCTN16059206.

P04.24 Evaluation of prevalence of stis between women referred to “counselling and harm reduction centre for vulnerable women” in isfahan – iran 2014

Introduction At this time sexually transmitted infections are a major public health problem. Prevalence of STIs is correlated with distribution of sexual behaviours. Rates of sexual activity among Iranian youth were low but it is gradually changing. In the other hand rate of sexual transmission of HIV among newly identified people living with HIV is increasing year by year that might have probably a consistent trend with STIs. By this way Counselling and Harm Reduction centres for vulnerable women were established. So we looked clients in these centres for evaluating prevalence of STIs base on syndromic approach. Methods In Isfahan, we lunched 2 centres for vulnerable women. We performed a survey (cross - sectional) for all clients who referred in 2014. The data was gathered by the client’s files. Results We have admitted 160 clients, the majority of them were in group ages 25–34 years (38.4%) and married (81%). 47% of clients had history of sexual high risk behaviour that 50% were drug abuser. All of clients were assessed in every visit to centre for signs of STIs.30% of them need to exam and 50% of them were treated because vaginal discharge. Conclusion These results show the increase of sexual high risk behaviours in young people and special between drug abuser. So it is necessary to evaluate STIs between this group. In this time, we have to manage base on syndromic approach so we need to provide etiologic approach for improving care and treatment. We have faced risk of third episode of HIV/AIDS from IDU to sexual contact in Iran right now so it is essential to improve harm reduction centres as well as social support in order to empower women for job finding that could play an effective and important role in control of spreading HIV/AIDS and STIs. Disclosure of interest Counselling and Harm Reduction centres for vulnerable women were founded by Isfahan university of medical sciences.

Exploring the relationship between disease-related knowledge and health risk behaviours in young people with congenital heart disease.

In order to prevent cardiac complications, young people with congenital heart disease (CHD) should conduct heart-healthy behaviours. Therefore, they are assumed to have a good understanding of their disease. However, empirical data on the relationship between disease-related knowledge and health behaviours in this population is lacking. This study aimed (a) to describe the health risk behaviours of young people with CHD; (b) to describe their level of disease-related knowledge; and (c) to explore the relationship between the level of disease-related knowledge and health risk behaviours. Data were collected in 429 young people with CHD. Health risk behaviours were assessed using the Health Behaviour Scale for CHD and the Baecke questionnaire. Disease-related knowledge was evaluated using the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for CHD. An overall health behaviour risk score, a total knowledge score and eight thematic knowledge subscale scores were calculated. Eight relationships between knowledge and health risk behaviours were tested. Patients presented moderate to good overall health behaviour. Disease-related knowledge was found to be relatively poor. Furthermore, better understanding of endocarditis was significantly associated with the performance of annual dental visits. This study was the first to explore the relationship between disease-related knowledge and health risk behaviours in young people with CHD. Little evidence, however, was found to support this relationship. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of other strategies altering the health-compromising behaviours of these patients.

Mediation analysis of an adolescent HIV/STI/pregnancy prevention intervention

Most interventions designed to prevent HIV/STI/pregnancy risk behaviours in young people have multiple components based on psychosocial theories (e.g. social cognitive theory) dictating sets of mediating variables to influence to achieve desired changes in behaviours. Mediation analysis is a method for investigating the extent to which a variable X (e.g. intervention indicator) influences an outcome variable Y (e.g. unprotected sex) by first influencing an intermediate variable M (e.g. self-efficacy to use a condom) and provides a way for empirically validating theoretical hypothesised mediators. In this way, mediation analysis is a critical tool for suggesting which components of complex interventions should be the focus of more efficient and effective interventions in the future. The present study applied multilevel mediation analysis to outcome data from the All4You2! study to begin to examine the relationships between a theory-based HIV/STI/pregnancy prevention curriculum for students attending alternative high schools who were at risk of educational failure. The study targeted psychosocial mediating variables and the primary outcome unprotected sex in the past three months. Results suggest helping young people attending alternative schools identify and avoid exposure to risky situations and improving their self-efficacy to refuse sex should be focal points of future interventions.

The association between family and community social capital and health risk behaviours in young people: an integrative review

BackgroundHealth risk behaviours known to result in poorer outcomes in adulthood are generally established in late childhood and adolescence. These ‘risky’ behaviours include smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use and sexual risk taking. While the role of social capital in the establishment of health risk behaviours in young people has been explored, to date, no attempt has been made to consolidate the evidence in the form of a review. Thus, this integrative review was undertaken to identify and synthesise research findings on the role and impact of family and community social capital on health risk behaviours in young people and provide a consolidated evidence base to inform multi-sectorial policy and practice.MethodsKey electronic databases were searched (i.e. ASSIA, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of s of Reviews of Effects, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Sociological s) for relevant studies and this was complemented by hand searching. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied and data was extracted from the included studies. Heterogeneity in study design and the outcomes assessed precluded meta-analysis/meta-synthesis; the results are therefore presented in narrative form.ResultsThirty-four papers satisfied the review inclusion criteria; most were cross-sectional surveys. The majority of the studies were conducted in North America (n=25), with three being conducted in the UK. Sample sizes ranged from 61 to 98,340. The synthesised evidence demonstrates that social capital is an important construct for understanding the establishment of health risk behaviours in young people. The different elements of family and community social capital varied in terms of their saliency within each behavioural domain, with positive parent–child relations, parental monitoring, religiosity and school quality being particularly important in reducing risk.ConclusionsThis review is the first to systematically synthesise research findings about the association between social capital and health risk behaviours in young people. While providing evidence that may inform the development of interventions framed around social capital, the review also highlights key areas where further research is required to provide a fuller account of the nature and role of social capital in influencing the uptake of health risk behaviours.

The theory of planned behaviour as a framework for predicting sexual risk behaviour in sub-Saharan African youth: A critical review

Amongst the psychological theories that have been used to help understand why people have unprotected sex, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB: Ajzen 1991) has earned a prominent position. This article is a critical review of 11 peer-reviewed studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa during 2001 to 2009, which used the TPB as a model of predicting sexual risk behaviour in young people. All the studies revealed the predictive ability of the TPB in urban, rural, and traditional African settings, with R 2 coefficients ranging between 0.14 and 0.67. With data comparing favourably to those obtained in the international literature, these studies indicate that the TPB can be used to study sexual risk intentions and behaviour in sub-Saharan African youth, and question arguments against the theory's use in non-Western settings.

An overview of prevention of multiple risk behaviour in adolescence and young adulthood

The observed clustering, and shared underlying determinants, of risk behaviours in young people has led to the proposition that interventions should take a broader approach to risk behaviour prevention. In this review we synthesized the evidence on 'what works' to prevent multiple risk behaviour (focusing on tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use and sexual risk behaviour) for policy-makers, practitioners and academics. We aimed to identify promising intervention programmes and to give a narrative overview of the wider influences on risk behaviour, in order to help inform future intervention strategies and policies. The most promising programme approaches for reducing multiple risk behaviour simultaneously address multiple domains of risk and protective factors predictive of risk behaviour. These programmes seek to increase resilience and promote positive parental/family influences and/or healthy school environments supportive of positive social and emotional development. However, wider influences on risk behaviour, such as culture, media and social climate also need to be addressed through broader social policy change. Furthermore, the importance of positive experiences during transition periods of the child-youth-adult phase of the life course should be appropriately addressed within intervention programmes and broader policy change, to reduce marginalization, social exclusion and the vulnerability of young people during transition periods.

Changes in the socio-demographic patterning of late adolescent health risk behaviours during the 1990s: analysis of two West of Scotland cohort studies

BackgroundSubstance use and sexual risk behaviour affect young people's current and future health and wellbeing in many high-income countries. Our understanding of time-trends in adolescent health-risk behaviour is largely based on routinely collected survey data in school-aged adolescents (aged 15 years or less). Less is known about changes in these behaviours among older adolescents.MethodsWe compared two cohorts from the same geographical area (West of Scotland), surveyed in 1990 and 2003, to: describe time-trends in measures of smoking, drinking, illicit drug use, early sexual initiation, number of opposite sex sexual partners and experience of pregnancy at age 18-19 years, both overall and stratified by gender and socioeconomic status (SES); and examine the effect of time-trends on the patterning of behaviours by gender and SES. Our analyses adjust for slight between-cohort age differences since age was positively associated with illicit drug use and pregnancy.ResultsRates of drinking, illicit drug use, early sexual initiation and experience of greater numbers of sexual partners all increased significantly between 1990 and 2003, especially among females, leading to attenuation and, for early sexual initiation, elimination, of gender differences. Most rates increased to a similar extent regardless of SES. However, rates of current smoking decreased only among those from higher SES groups. In addition, increases in 'cannabis-only' were greater among higher SES groups while use of illicit drugs other than cannabis increased more in lower SES groups.ConclusionMarked increases in female substance use and sexual risk behaviours have implications for the long-term health and wellbeing of young women. More effective preventive measures are needed to reduce risk behaviour uptake throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. Public health strategies should reflect both the widespread prevalence of risk behaviour in young people as well as the particular vulnerability to certain risk behaviours among those from lower SES groups.

SP3-68 A systematic review of interventions to prevent or reduce substance use and sexual risk behaviour in young people

BackgroundInterventions aimed at preventing risky behaviour in adolescence and young adulthood have largely focused on single risk behaviours and a limited number of underlying predictors. Interventions that take a broader...

Sexual risk behaviour in young people with first episode psychosis

Previous studies have consistently reported high rates of risky behaviour for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst individuals with persistent psychosis. Whether such behaviours are evident from the first presentation or relate to a chronic illness course remains largely undetermined, with limited research conducted amongst young people with first episode psychosis. The aim of the current study was to compare engagement in sexual risk behaviour amongst young people with first episode psychosis with their peers. Sixty-seven sexually active young people with first episode psychosis and 48 healthy control participants (aged 18-29 years) closely matched on sociodemographic characteristics completed a detailed questionnaire assessing a comprehensive range of sexual risk behaviours. There were few differences in the rates of sexual risk behaviour reported by the first episode sample and their peers. Compared with control participants, young people with first episode psychosis reported significantly more inconsistent condom use, less condom-related preparatory behaviour, more concern about HIV/STIs when sex was unprotected, less confidence discussing condom use and increased substance use by their last sexual partner. The sexual behaviour of young people with first episode psychosis appears similar to their peers. However, group differences, particularly increased frequency of unprotected sex amongst the first episode sample, suggest that those with psychosis are at increased STI risk and have distinct needs. The findings support the call for early intervention strategies that target reduction of sexual risk behaviour in the context of persistent mental illness.

Sex and sport: sexual risk behaviour in young people in rural and regional Victoria

To determine the prevalence of chlamydia and understand sexual risk behaviour in 16-29 year olds in rural Victoria through a chlamydia testing program undertaken at local sporting clubs. Young people were recruited from the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria, Australia between May and September 2007. After a night of sporting practice, participants provided a first pass urine sample and completed a brief questionnaire about sexual risk behaviour. Those positive for chlamydia were managed by telephone consultation with a practitioner from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. A total of 709 young people participated (77% male, 23% female) in the study; 77% were sexually active. Overall chlamydia prevalence in sexually active participants was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.4-7.3); 7.4% in females (95% CI: 3.5-13.6) and 4.5% in males (95% CI: 2.7-6.9). Approximately 60% of males and 20% of females consumed alcohol at high 'Risky Single Occasion Drinking' levels at least weekly and 60% had used an illicit drug in their lifetime. Nearly 45% reported having sex in the past year when they usually would not have because they were too drunk or high. Sexually transmissible infection (STI) knowledge was generally poor and only 25% used a condom the last time they had sex. Chlamydia prevalence was high in our study population. Many participants had poor knowledge about STIs and low condom use. These findings combined with high levels of risky alcohol use and having sex while intoxicated highlights the need for programs in rural and regional Victoria that combine both STI testing and prevention and education programs.