Anal Intercourse Among Young Heterosexuals in Three Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in the United States

Source.

Gorbach PM, Manhart LE, Hess KL, Stoner BP, Martin DH, Holmes KK.

From the *Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; the daggerDepartments of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and the double dagger Departments of Anthropology and Medicine, Washington University St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; and the section sign Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.

OBJECTIVE:
To examine factors associated with heterosexual anal intercourse (AI).

METHODS:
Between 2001 and 2004, 1084 heterosexual adults aged 18 to 26 attending public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Seattle, New Orleans, and St Louis were interviewed using computer-assisted self interview and tested for STIs; Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, and genital herpes (HSV-2). Characteristics associated with AI were identified using logistic regression.

RESULTS:
Overall 400 (37%) reported ever having had AI, 266 (28.9%) reported AI with at least 1 of their last 3 partners, and 19% reported AI with their last partner. Fewer women than men reported condom use at last AI (26% vs. 45%, P <0.001).>3 lifetime sex partners [AOR 2.8 (1.56-5.07)] among women, and sex on the same day as meeting a partner [AOR 2.0 (1.33-3.06]) among men. AI with the last partner was associated with sex toy use [AOR 5.6 (2.63-12.0)] and having concurrent partners [AOR 2.2 (1.21-4.11)] among men, and with sex within a week of meeting [AOR 2.4 (1.28-4.37)], believing the partner was concurrent (AOR 1.9 [1.12-3.22]), and sex toy use [AOR 5.7 (2.31-14.0)] among women. Prevalent vaginal and urethral sexually transmitted infections were not associated with AI.

CONCLUSIONS:
Many young heterosexuals attending sexually transmitted disease clinics reported AI, which was associated with other sexual risk behaviors, suggesting a confluence of risks for HIV infection.

PMID: 19265740 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]