Associations of sociodemographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors with sexual risk and sexually transmitted diseases in teen clinic patients

Purpose: To examine the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, sexu ally transmitted disease (STD)/human immunodeficiency virus knowledge, and psychosocial and behavioral risk factors on sexual risk and STDs in adolesc ents using constructs from the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skil ls model (IMB). Methods: A convenience sample of 303 sexually experienced, racially diverse adolescents (mean age 16.7 years, 57.9% female) avho were seeking health c are at a general health maintenance organization teen clinic were recruited for the study and completed a self-reported questionnaire which assessed s ociodemographic, knowledge, and psychosocial factors, risk behaviors, and h istory of STDs. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess factors as sociated with sexual risk behavior and STD history. Results: Many of the study participants were at risk for STDs; 43.8% had fo ur or more lifetime sexual partners, 62.8% did not consistently use condoms , 21.1% had a history of pregnancy or impregnation, and 28.2% had a history of STDs. A multiple linear regression model to assess factors associated w ith sexual risk behavior (a nine-item index) indicate that perceptions of h igher STD risk, perceptions that friends engage in risk behaviors, percepti ons that friends will not support their STD risk-reduction efforts, knowing someone of a similar age who has had an STD, and having no intention of us ing condoms in the future are significantly associated with sexual behavior al risk (R-2 = .22, P < .000). A logistic regression model to examine histo ry of STDs reveals that teens who are female, African-American, frequently use marijuana, have an older steady sexual partner, have a history of pregn ancy or impregnation, have a greater number of lifetime sexual partners, an d perceive that monogamy will not decrease STD risk are significantly more likely to report a history of STDs. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors and constructs of the IMB model are a ssociated with adolescents' risk and acquisition of STDs. Teens with such r isk profiles should be targeted for risk-reduction intervention. (C) Societ y for Adolescent Medicine, 2000.