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Risky Anal Intercourse Common in Young US Adults
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XVI International AIDS Conference
Mark Mascolini
August 16, 2006
One third of 18- to 26-year-olds attending public sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in three US cities reported having anal intercourse at least once [1]. Only a slightly higher percentage used a condom during their last anal intercourse.
Researchers in Seattle, New Orleans, and St. Louis interviewed and tested 941 young adults attending STD clinics from 2001 through 2004. All study participants identified themselves as "100% heterosexual."
The survey revealed that 284 respondents (33%) had anal intercourse at least once, including 32% of women and 34% of men. About one quarter of respondents (22% of women and 25% of men) had anal intercourse with at least 1 of their last 3 sex partners. Other research shows that HIV is more readily transmitted during anal intercourse than during vaginal sex.
Only 38% of those surveyed--24% of women and 47% of men--said they used a condom during their last intercourse. While 45% of respondents who had anal intercourse used a condom during last vaginal intercourse, 52% of those who never had anal sex used a condom during last vaginal sex.
More people who reported anal intercourse also reported a history of any STD (50% versus 37%), but those who practiced anal intercourse were not more likely to test positive for a current STD.
Statistical analysis adjusted for gender and education level linked four factors to ever having anal intercourse: Not being African American lowered the risk 35% (odds ratio [OR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43 to 0.99). Having sex on the same day as meeting a partner more than doubled the likelihood of anal intercourse (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.68 to 3.69), as did ever selling sex (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.4). Having more lifetime sexual partners upped the odds of anal intercourse 1% for every partner (OR 1.01 per partner, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02). Injecting drug use did not influence the chance of having anal intercourse.
The researchers believe their findings underline "a confluence of risks for HIV infection among young heterosexuals practicing anal intercourse."
Reference
1. Gorbach PM, Manhart LE, Stoner BP, Martin DH. Anal intercourse among young heterosexuals in three US STD clinic populations. XVI International AIDS Conference. August 13-18. Toronto. Abstract WEAD0203.
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