Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Teens at an Urban Emergency Department: Relationship With Violent Behaviors and Substance Use

Abstract

Purpose-Data regarding sexual risk behaviors among adolescent patients presenting to urban Emergency Departments (ED) is lacking. This paper describes rates and correlates of sexual risk behaviors among adolescents screened in an urban ED.Methods-Over a one-year period, 1576 patients ages 14-18 self-administered a computerized survey (57.6% female, 59.3% African American).Results-Among sexually active adolescents (60%), 12.0% reported four or more partners, 45.3% reported using a condom all the time, and 14.7% reporting using substances before sex. Regression analyses examined correlates of sexual risk behaviors based on demographics, violence, and substance use. Males and younger teens were more likely to report condom use than females and older teens. Participants with poor grades were more likely to have had sex and using substances before sex, and were less likely to report condom use. Participants reporting dating violence were more likely to have had sex and less likely to use condoms, whereas participants reporting peer violence and weapon carriage were more likely to report substance use before sex. Binge drinking and marijuana use were associated with all sex risk behaviors.Conclusions-The urban ED visit may provide an opportunity to deliver interventions to address sexual risk behaviors among adolescents.

Prescription Drug Misuse and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults

“…Rates of sexual activity, multiple partners, and condom use in this sample were relatively consistent with another ED-based study of 14-to 18-year-olds in an urban ED (Walton et al, 2011). However, a larger proportion in the current study reported sex after alcohol/other drug use in the past year (50% vs. 15%), which may refl ect differences in the samples (e.g., older age in this study, ED location).…”

“…For example, in 14-to 18-year-olds in the ED, Walton et al (2011) found that among the 60% who were sexually active, 43% had multiple partners, 55% reported inconsistent condom use, and 15% used alcohol and/or other drugs before sex in the past year. Similarly, in an urban ED, among 14-to 24-year-olds with a history of drug use, Bonar et al (in press) found that 95% were sexually active, 30% had a lifetime STI, and in the past month, 30% had multiple sexual partners, 55% reported inconsistent condom use with regular partners, and 27% reported inconsistent condom use with casual partners.…”

Comparing Substance Use And Violence Among Adolescents Recruited From an Urban Emergency Department: Does Parenting Status Matter?

“…The non-parenting group was further delineated into two groups, including those who were sexually active (referred to as sexually active youth) and those who were not sexually active/had never had sex (referred to non-sexually active youth). This was based on prior literature demonstrating the strong correlation between sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and violence [24,25].…”

54. Providing Adolescent Sexual Health Care in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Views of Health Care Providers

“…6 The prevalence of high-risk sexual health behaviors is high among adolescent ED users. [7][8][9][10] Thus, EDs may provide a unique opportunity to provide sexual health interventions to a high risk population that is difficult to reach in traditional primary care settings.…”