OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in young women who were sexually abused, sexually precocious, and engaged in high-risk behaviors with the rates of STDs in young women who had none of these experiences. DESIGN: In this descriptive, comparative study, purposive, nonrandom sampling was used to obtain representation of women in four ethnic groups. Women completed a questionnaire on their sexual history and high-risk behaviors, sexual abuse and age of occurrence, and health issues, including STDs. Chi-square analyses were used to explore differences in these risk factors for STDs. SETTING: Data were collected at 44 urban and rural sites, including health clinics, private care providers, academic institutions, and Indian reservations. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 1,994 women ages 18-22 years and representing four ethnic groups. RESULTS: Sexually abused, precocious women who also engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors were the most likely to have had an STD: The sequence of these events was not significant. High-risk sexual behaviors appeared to be a greater risk factor for STDs than sexual abuse or precocity. CONCLUSIONS: Young women who engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, such as sex on a first date or with a stranger, are at great risk for acquiring STDs. Nurses must be advocates for sex education in high schools to inform teenagers about the dangers of high-risk behaviors and STDs, and to explain ways to handle sexual coercion and possible rape.
OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in young women who were sexually abused, sexually precocious, and engaged in high-risk behaviors with the rates of STDs in young women who had none of these experiences. DESIGN: In this descriptive, comparative study, purposive, nonrandom sampling was used to obtain representation of women in four ethnic groups. Women completed a questionnaire on their sexual history and high-risk behaviors, sexual abuse and age of occurrence, and health issues, including STDs. Chi-square analyses were used to explore differences in these risk factors for STDs. SETTING: Data were collected at 44 urban and rural sites, including health clinics, private care providers, academic institutions, and Indian reservations. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 1,994 women ages 18-22 years and representing four ethnic groups. RESULTS: Sexually abused, precocious women who also engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors were the most likely to have had an STD: The sequence of these events was not significant. High-risk sexual behaviors appeared to be a greater risk factor for STDs than sexual abuse or precocity. CONCLUSIONS: Young women who engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, such as sex on a first date or with a stranger, are at great risk for acquiring STDs. Nurses must be advocates for sex education in high schools to inform teenagers about the dangers of high-risk behaviors and STDs, and to explain ways to handle sexual coercion and possible rape.
Authors: M C Smith Fawzi; W Lambert; J M Singler; Y Tanagho; F Léandre; P Nevil; D Bertrand; M S Claude; J Bertrand; M Louissaint; L Jeannis; J S Mukherjee; S Goldie; J J Salazar; P E Farmer Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Suniti Solomon; Ramnath Subbaraman; Sunil S Solomon; Aylur K Srikrishnan; Sethulakshmi C Johnson; C K Vasudevan; Santhanam Anand; Aylur K Ganesh; David D Celentano Journal: Violence Against Women Date: 2009-05-15