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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Danielle C. Ompad, PhD1, Steffanie Strathdee, PhD2, David D. Celentano, ScD2, Carl A Latkin, PhD3, Sheppard G. Kellam, MD4, Jeanne Poduska, ScD4, and Nicholas Ialongo, PhD5. (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-419-3589, dompad@nyam.org, (2) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Program, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Room 737, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, (5) Department of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205
We describe the occurrence of oral sex in a population of 1614 White and African-American adolescents in Baltimore. Between 1985/86, two cohorts of first grade public school students were enrolled in a preventive intervention (N=2055). Participants were re-interviewed in 1998-2001 as young adults (n=1614; 78.5% response rate) to assess drug use and sexual behavior history. Oral sex was defined as “putting the mouth on someone’s penis, vagina, anus or butt” and included both receptive and insertive behaviors. Seventy-seven percent of adolescents had oral sex, with males being more likely to report oral sex than females (80 percent versus 74 percent, respectively). Median age of first vaginal intercourse preceded onset of oral sex by one year (15 years vs. 16 years; p<0.001). Elementary school problem behaviors (aggression, shyness and attention), male gender, forced sex, early cigarette and alcohol use, and ever having a same sex partner were independent predictors of oral sex. Adolescents who engaged in oral sex were 3.2 times (95% confidence interval: 2.01, 5.11) more likely to report having an STD as compared to those who did not, adjusting for gender, race, same sex partner, and ever having vaginal intercourse. These data provide important insight into the diverse range of sexual behaviors adolescents engage in and may help identify ways in which individuals may be placing themselves at risk for negative health consequences (e.g., STDs). Further research addressing the diverse range of sexual behaviors adolescents engage in is warranted.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Adolescents, Oral/Anal Sex
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.