HETEROSEXUAL EXPERIENCES AND PARTNERSHIPS OF URBAN, LOW-INCOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH

We have used data from a probability sample of African-American and Hi spanic youth living in low-income urban households to describe their h eterosexual experiences and the influence of relationships with differ ent kinds of sexual partners (married/lived with, well known, casual) on types of intercourse (oral, anal, vaginal), condom use, and use of other birth control methods. The Generalized Estimating Equation metho d for data sets with multiple observations on the same subject was use d to examine whether an individual's behavior differs with different k inds of partners and how behavior with a given partner is affected by experience with other relationships. Results indicate that (a) with th e exception of African-American men, sexual and contraceptive behavior varied considerably with different kinds of partners; (b) heterosexua l oral and anal intercourse is more common among Hispanic than African -American youth; and (c) regardless of experience with other relations hips, consistent condom use as well as use of any type of contraceptiv e method tend to be less likely with a casual sex partner. Data regard ing percentages of consistent condom use (20-45%) and increased involv ement in risky behavior associated with multiple partners further emph asize the need for interventions that enhance condom use and discourag e involvement with multiple partners.