A descriptive study of sexual health attitudes and practices among adolescent and young adult male county health department clients

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to look at selected sexual attitudes, beliefs, and sexual health practices among adolescent and young adult males. Specifically, the study examines adolescent and young adult males' sexual development and experiences, contraceptive use, sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention practices, and, to a limited extent, public health clinic utilization. 2The subjects (n = 125) were all males age 15 to 40, who came into the Clackamas County Health Department for their own appointment or accompanying a sexual partner.Subjects were asked to fill out the Men's Health Questionnaire, a 48-item questionnaire covering the aforementioned topics.The results of the Men's Health Questionnaire showed that the males examined in Clackamas County are similar to males elsewhere in the United States. The average age of first intercourse in this population of males is 14.8 years old, with 54.2 percent experiencing intercourse for the first time between the ages of 13 and 16. As is also typical of United States males, 58.8 percent the of participants in this study are having sex with multiple partners in the last year. Of the males who indicated they had had more than one sexual partner (n = 78), 24.3 percent of them had had five sexual partners in the last year.The lifetime number of sexual partners for 34.3 percent of the participants was 6 to 10.Another 12.8 percent had 11 to 20 sexual partners; 19.2 percent had 21 to 50 sexual partners; and 12.8 percent had more than 50 lifetime sexual partners. In addition, over a third (38.5%) of these males reported having had an STD and 85.9 percent reported sometimes or never protecting themselves from their partner's bodily secretions. The number of males who used condoms was reported to be 78.3 percent of the sample, although only 14.0 percent said they always used protection.These findings indicate expanded efforts in sexuality education are needed in this population. These efforts need to include comprehensive information on sexual development, initiation into sexual activity, and contraceptive and STD prevention practices. The purpose of this study was to look at selected sexual attitudes, beliefs, and sexual health practices among adolescent and young adult males. Specifically, the study examines adolescent and young adult males' sexual development and experience, contraceptive use, sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention practices, and, to a limited extent, public health clinic utilization. AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Russel DouglasThe subjects (n = 125) were all males age 15 to 40 who came into the Clackamas County Health Department for their own appointment or accompanying a sexual partner.Subjects were asked to fill out the Men's Health Questionnaire, a 48-item questionnaire covering the aforementioned topics.The results showed that the males examined in Clackamas County are similar to males elsewhere in the United States. These males have experienced sexual relations; they have had sex with multiple partners; they have sex frequently; and they d...