328811
Relationship between the intention of getting involved in same-sex and both-sex sexual practices and suicidal behavior in adolescents, Puerto Rico, 2010-2012
Claudia Amaya-Ardila, MS,
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Carmen Velez-Vega, PhD, MSW,
DrPH Program in Social Determinants f Health, Dept. Social Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Studies have shown that adolescents that belong to sexual minorities have higher risk of suicidal behavior and committing suicide compared to their counterparts. This study aims to evaluate the association between the intention of getting involved in same-sex and both-sex sexual practices and suicidal behavior among students in Puerto Rico. A secondary analysis using data collected from the cross-sectional study “Consulta Juvenil VIII (2010-2012)” was performed. A representative sample consisting of 5,284 students from public and private schools in Puerto Rico between 7th and 12th grade was used. Students were classified in two groups: intention of getting involved in a) same-sex and both-sex sexual practices or b) opposite-sex sexual practices. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between the intention to get involved in sexual practices and suicide ideation and attempt. A total of 248 (5.7%) students reported the intention of getting involved in same-sex and both-sex sexual practices. From this group, 19.4% (p<0.05) reported suicide ideation and 16.8% (p<0.05) suicide attempt, compared to their counterparts (11.6% and 6.7% respectively). Multivariate analysis shows these students had 18% (95%CI: 0.4-1.9) decreased odds of suicide ideation and 40% (95%CI: 0.2-1.4) decreased odds of suicide attempt than their counterparts when adjusted several risk factors associated to suicidal behavior. Results suggest that there is no positive association between the intention to get involved in same-sex and both-sex sexual practices and suicide behavior. Nevertheless, they had increased odds of reporting risk factors associated to suicide behavior. Further studies that evaluate these associations are warranted.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Assess the magnitude of the relationship between the intention of getting involve in same-sex and both sex sexual practices and suicidal behavior (ideation and attempt) in Puerto Rican students. Compare the prevalence of suicidal behavior between students reporting intention of getting involve in same-sex and both sex sexual practices and student reporting intention of getting involve in opposite-sex sexual practices.
Keyword(s): Child/Adolescent Mental Health, Epidemiology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a MS. Epidemiology candidate. Since my main research interests include the area of suicidal behavior among adolescents, I decided to make this the central topic of my master's thesis. I conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between the intention to get involve in sexual practices with individuals of their same sex or both sexes and suicidal behavior in Puerto Rican students from 7th to 12th grade.
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.
