Contextual factors associated with having older sexual partners among African American female adolescents

Background: Having older sexual partners has been identified as a risk factor for unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections among African American female adolescents. An examination of contextual factors associated with having older male sexual partners may provide insight as to why young women choose such partners.

Methods: Baseline data were collected prior to randomization from 715 African American females, 15 to 21 years of age, participating in an STD/HIV prevention program in Atlanta, GA. Demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral measures were collected via an audio-computer assisted self-interview. The outcome variable, having older partners, was defined as generally having sex with males =>2 years older than the participant.

Results: Preliminary analyses demonstrated that current school attendance, primary source of spending money, receipt of family aid and previous gang membership were associated with having an older male sexual partner. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, controlling for participants' age, showed that receiving a majority of spending money from parents, as opposed to a boyfriend, was associated with a decrease in the odds of having older male sex partners. Conversely, receipt of family aid and previous gang membership were associated with an increase in the odds of having older male sexual partners.

Conclusions: Results suggest that contextual factors related to family and friends may play an important role in African American young women's selection of older male sexual partners. Understanding the antecedents of this potential marker of sexual risk behavior may be valuable in optimizing STD/HIV interventions.