Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115463

Christine M. Markham, PhD¹, Melissa Fleschler, PhD¹, Robert C. Addy, MA², Nicole McKirahan, MPH³, Kiara Spooner, DrPh¹, Dana Hurt, MPH⁴, Selena Youmans, BA⁴, and Susan Tortolero, PhD⁵. (1) Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas-Houston, 7000 Fannin, 26th floor, Houston, TX 77030, 713 500 9646, Christine.Markham@uth.tmc.edu, (2) School of Public Health, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, 7000 Fannin Ste. 2610I, Houston, TX 77030, (3) School of Public Health/ Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas-Houston, 7000 Fannin, 26th Floor, Houston, TX 77030, (4) Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas- Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin, 26th Floor, Houston, TX 77030, (5) Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas - Houston, 7000 Fannin, Ste 2622, Houston, TX 77030

Background: Given the risk of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents, it is critical that researchers understand the prevalence of vaginal, oral and anal sexual behavior to guide prevention efforts for this population. However, little is known about these behaviors among early adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,321 predominantly minority 7th graders in ten urban middle schools in Southeast Texas. Sexual behaviors examined included lifetime engagement of vaginal, oral, and anal sex, and age of initiation. Odds ratios were calculated by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. Results: The sample was 57.1% female, 43.5% African American, 41.9% Hispanic, mean age 12.5 (SD0.69) years. Fourteen percent had engaged in any type of intercourse; 12% had engaged in vaginal sex, 7.9% in oral sex, 6.5% in anal sex. Mean age of initiation was 11.5 (SD1.96), 11.1 (SD2.25), 11.3 (SD1.87) years respectively for each type of intercourse. Overall, 6.1% of students engaged in one type of intercourse, 4.2% in two types, 4.0% in three types. Males were nearly three times as likely to have experienced vaginal, oral or anal sex compared to females. African Americans were over four times as likely to have engaged in vaginal sex, and two times as likely to have engaged in oral or anal sex compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions: Results suggest that risky sexual behaviors are prevalent among middle school students. However, few adolescent HIV/STI prevention programs specifically address oral and anal sex behaviors. Future interventions should address misconceptions of risk associated with oral and anal sex.

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