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Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 9(3)

Risk behaviours by type of concurrency among young people in three STI clinics in the United States

Kristen L. Hess A F, Pamina M. Gorbach A, Lisa E. Manhart B, Bradley P. Stoner C, David H. Martin D and King K. Holmes E

A School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
B School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359931, 325 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
C Department of Anthropology, Washington University St. Louis, Campus Box 1114, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
D School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University, 1542 Tulane Avenue, Suite 331, Box T4M-2, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
E School of Public Health, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Box 359931, 908 Jefferson Street, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
F Corresponding author. Email: khess@ucla.edu

Sexual Health 9(3) 280-287 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SH11047
Submitted: 15 March 2011  Accepted: 16 September 2011   Published: 9 January 2012
 
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Abstract

Background: Concurrent sexual partnerships can increase sexually transmissible infections (STI) transmission on a population level. However, different concurrency types may be associated with differential risks for transmission. To investigate this, we describe the prevalence and correlates of four specific concurrency types. Methods: Between 2001 and 2004, 1098 young adults attending three STI clinics were interviewed and tested for STIs. Characteristics associated with concurrency types were identified using logistic regression. Results: Approximately one-third of respondents reported reactive (34%), transitional (36%), compensatory (32%) and experimental (26%) concurrency. Among men, reactive concurrency was associated with not identifying as heterosexual, drug use and having sex the same day as meeting a partner. Among women, reactive concurrency was associated with African-American race and having >3 lifetime partners. Transitional concurrency was associated with >3 lifetime partners for men and women. Among men, compensatory concurrency was associated with African-American race; among women, there were no associations with compensatory concurrency. Among men, experimental concurrency was associated with >3 lifetime partners and having sex the same day as meeting a partner. Among women, experimental concurrency was associated with not identifying as heterosexual, drug use and having sex the same day as meeting a partner. Conclusions: All concurrency types were common in this population and each was associated with a set of demographic and risk factors. Reactive and experimental concurrency types were associated with other high-risk behaviours, such as drug use.

Additional keywords: drug use, multiple partners, sexual behaviour.


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