Dimensions of Sexual Orientation and HIV-Related Risk Among Adolescent Females: Evidence From a Statewide Survey

We examined the relationship of 2 dimensions of sexual orientation--sexual identity and sex of partners--with self-reported behaviors and experiences to identify factors that may place adolescent females at risk of HIV/AIDS. We gathered data on sexually experienced female high school students from 4...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2008-06, Vol.98 (6), p.1051-1058
Main Authors: Goodenow, Carol, Szalacha, Laura A, Robin, Leah E, Westheimer, Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Adolescent
AIDS
Condoms
Female
Gays & lesbians
HIV
HIV Infections - transmission
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Logistic Models
Massachusetts
Public health
Research and Practice
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teenagers
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Summary:We examined the relationship of 2 dimensions of sexual orientation--sexual identity and sex of partners--with self-reported behaviors and experiences to identify factors that may place adolescent females at risk of HIV/AIDS. We gathered data on sexually experienced female high school students from 4 waves of a population-based survey. We used logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between their sexual identity (3666 heterosexual; 184 lesbian, gay, or bisexual; 113 not sure) and sex of partners (3714 male only, 79 female only, and 180 both males and females) with HIV-related risk behaviors. Self-defined sexual identity was often inconsistent with sex of sexual partners. Sexual identities other than heterosexual and having same-sex partners (either exclusively or in addition to male partners) were associated with high rates of several HIV-related risk behaviors. Coerced sexual contact was significantly associated with every risk outcome. AIDS education in school predicted lower HIV risk on 4 of 6 indicators. Programs to prevent HIV infection among adolescent females should take into account the complexity of sexual orientation and should address the needs and behaviors of sexual-minority youths.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2005.080531