312574
Association between sex trading as a minor and later sex trading among females in drug court
Risky sexual behaviors in minors have been shown to predict risky sexual behaviors in adulthood (Mahalik et al, 2013). This analysis explores the association of sex trading as minors and number of sex trading events in the past 4 months in a vulnerable female population: drug offenders.
Methods:
Data comes from 319 mainly low-income African-American women recruited from a Municipal Drug Court System in the Midwest. Women were interviewed about history of sex trading and other potential risk factors. Sex trading as a minor was defined as having sex for drugs/alcohol, food, cash, housing, or clothes before the age of 18 (N=49) and in the past four months for adulthood (n=84). Multivariate logistic regression predicted adult sex trading in the past 4 months and its association with sex trading as minors and other demographic variables.
Results:
In the multivariate logistic regression, participants involved in sex trading as minors had 2.52 the odds of sex trading 10+ times in the past 4 months when compared to those who did not initiate as minors. Other variables that predicted current sex trading included 4 or more arrests (AOR 5.4), and having 75+ lifetime sexual partners (AOR 7.3). Social support, being separated from at least one parent, and child sexual abuse were not significant predictors of current sex trading.
Conclusion:
Amongst female drug offenders, those who traded sex as minors had higher odds of trading sex in adulthood. Findings suggest a need for targeted public health interventions for minors with risky sexual behaviors.
Learning Areas:
EpidemiologyPlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the rates of sex trading as minors, current sex trading, lifetime sex partners, injection drug use, and demographic variables in this population of female offenders
Assess the association of sex trading as minors and sex trading events in the past 4 months in this population of female offenders
Keyword(s): Criminal Justice, Vulnerable Populations
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a second year epidemiology doctoral student, I am a research assistant at the University of Florida, where I am gaining more experience in STI and drug use research, culturally competent community engagement, as well as increasing my analytical skills set by conducting secondary analysis with rich available data-sets. Thus far, I have 3 publications (2 first authored), with several pending on STIs and risky sexual behaviors in vulnerable populations and have given 11+ presentations.
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.