179112 Total number of youth assets, demographics, and never had sexual activity

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Sara Vesely, PhD , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Eleni Tolma, MPH, PhD , College of Public Health, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Roy Oman, PhD , College of Public Health, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Cheryl Aspy, PhD , College of Medicine, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Sharon Rodine , OICA, Oklahoma City, OK
Purpose: We explored the relationship between the total number of youth assets, demographic variables and never had sexual intercourse. Methods: The Youth Asset Study conducted in home interviews of 1111 youth/parent pairs in a Midwest city. 972 youth without missing demographic, sexual outcome, or asset data (17 assets measured) were analyzed. Mean age=14.3 ±1.6 years; 52% Female; 40% White; 29% Hispanic; 22% Black; 9% other; 75% two-parent households. Asset number was categorized into 4 levels: ≤8(14%), 9-11(27%), 12-14(40%), ≥15(19%). Chi square analysis and logistic regression analyses were conducted using an alpha of 0.05. Results: Asset level statistically differed across youth age and race, parental income and education and family structure. Never had sex also differed statistically across these five demographic variables. For example, as parental income increased so did the percent of youth in the highest asset level and the percent of youth that reported never having had sex. Gender was not associated with asset level or never had sex. The adjusted odds ratio for number of youth assets and never had sexual activity was 1.21 (95% confidence interval 1.14-1.28). For each additional asset a youth possessed the odds of never having had sexual intercourse was 1.21 higher as compared to a youth without the additional asset even after adjusting for the five demographic variables. Conclusions: Asset level and never had sex both differed significantly according to 5 demographic variables, however total number of assets was related to never having had sexual intercourse even after adjusting for demographic variables.

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify demographic variables related to number of youth assets and never had sexual intercourse. 2) Discuss the magnitude of the association between total number of assets and ever had sexual intercourse after adjusting for demographic variables.

Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in concept, analysis, and writing of the abstract
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.