Sexual behaviour and risk of sexually transmitted infections in young female healthcare students in Spain

Abstract

Background. Several authors have examined the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), but no study has yet analyzed it solely in relation with sexual behaviour in women. We analyzed the association of sexual behaviour with STI risk in female university students of healthcare sciences.Methods. We designed a cross-sectional study assessing over three months vaginal intercourse with a man. The study involved 175 female university students, without a stable partner, studying healthcare sciences in Spain. Main outcome variable: STI risk (not always using male condoms). Secondary variables: sexual behaviour, method of orgasm, desire to increase the frequency of sexual relations, desire to have more variety in sexual relations, frequency of sexual intercourse with the partner, and age. The information was collected with an original questionnaire. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) in order to analyze the association between the STI risk and the study variables.Results. Of the 175 women, 52 were positive for STI risk (29.7%, 95% CI [22.9–36.5%]). Factors significantly associated with STI risk (p < 0.05) included: orgasm (not having orgasms →OR = 7.01, 95% CI [1.49–33.00]; several methods →OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.31–1.90]; one single method →OR = 1; p = 0.008) and desiring an increased frequency of sexual activities (OR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.13–0.59], p < 0.001).Conclusions. Women’s desire for sexual activities and their sexual function were significant predictors of their risk for STI. Information about sexual function is an intrinsic aspect of sexual behaviour and should be taken into consideration when seeking approaches to reduce risks for STI.

Malaria and curable sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women: A two-years observational study in rural Burkina Faso

“…Authors reported psychological psychosexual disorders caused by FGM that could lead to decreased sexual desire [39][40][41]. In consequence, the sexual experience decrease, and probably the number of partners, so STI risk factors [42]. In addition, other authors reported that the women who have experienced FGM are generally from a conservative family environment that could contribute to reducing these risk factors of STI [43].…”

Does Sexual Behavior Cause Complaints on Sexually Transmitted Infections in Female Sex Workers in the Work Area of the Community Health Center of Pedan?

“…Based on other studies, it is seen that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted through sexual contact with clinical manifestations in the form of abnormalities, especially in the genitals. Failure of early detection of STIs can cause various complications such as pregnancy outside the womb, anogenital cancer, infection in newborns, or infection in pregnancy [6].…”

The challenges of preexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infections

“…Indeed, several situations leading to high-risk sex in other groups have been reported, for example within the military [26], during travels abroad [27], during adolescence, in correctional facilities or community facilities [28] or for female sex workers in particular in low-income countries [29], which may provide a setting for HIV and bacterial STI transmission. Among young female healthcare students, 29.7% were assessed as being at risk of STIs in Spain [30]. Changes in sexual practices are demonstrated by a study on Swedish students, whose number of sexual partners had increased over the last 25 years, while their use of condoms decreased [31].…”