Amsterdam 2015
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #2253 - Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking | ||||
|
Session: 18.1: Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking (Symposium) on Wednesday @ 14.30-16.00 in C202 Chaired by Maria Koulentianou, Joseph Lau Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Mats Sundbeck - Lund University, Sweden |
||||
| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: The spread of STI's in the world has increased during the first decade of the 2000s. To some extent this might be due to increased sexual risk-taking during travel abroad e.g. having multiple partners, casual sex and inconsistent condom use. Youth in high-income countries, travel extensively and about 70% of all Swedish youth were abroad during the past year. Studies, using convenience samples (e.g. backpackers at hostels and STI-clinics, travellers in departure halls at airports and casual workers at tourist resorts) show that 25 – 80 % of youth had a new sexual partner abroad and 35 – 65 % reported inconsistent condom use. Aim of this study is to assess sexual risk-taking behaviour among young Swedes, while travelling abroad and to examine possible associations with socio-demographic- and lifestyle factors. | ||||
| Method / Issue: In 2013, a population-based sample of 2189 Swedes aged18-29 years, was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire (response rate 45%). Validated instruments were used to assess travel, sexual life-style, mental health, heavy episodic drinking (HED), use of drugs and socio-demographic factors. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Of the sample of 2189 who had travelled abroad during the past year, about 2/3 did not have intercourse while abroad. Of the remainder (n=768), 75% had intercourse with a regular partner. Of the 25% (n=181) who had last intercourse with a non-regular partner, about 50% did not use a condom. Approximately 35% of the group with non-regular partners had two or more partners and 11% of them had four or more partners. A majority of those with non-regular partners had casual sex abroad. The background factor that most strongly associate with sexual risk-taking abroad was not having a regular partner during the journey. == In the adjusted models for males, a trip a month or longer (OR 8.61, CI (3.41-21.7, <0.001) and HED (OR 6.0, CI (1.81-19.9), 0.003) were significantly associated with two or more partners abroad. Among females on a trip a month or longer (OR 6.51, CI (2.35 – 18.0), <0.001) was significantly associated with two or more partners abroad. HED (OR 4.97, CI (2.00-12.3), 0.001), age range18-24 years (OR 1.88, CI (1.00-3.50), 0.049) and use of drugs (OR 2.95, CI (1.21 – 7.20), 0.018) were significantly associated with casual sex for males. For females, age range 18-24 years (OR 3.49, CI (1.49-8.19), 0.004), a trip a month or longer (OR 2.96, CI (1.23-7.10), 0.015), use of drugs (OR 6.96, CI (2.65 – 18.3), <0.001) and HED (OR 3.46, CI (1.41-8.49), 0.007) were significantly associated with causal sex. | ||||
| Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that in a general population of young travellers, the group of risk takers is small but highly sexually active. In a "worst-case scenario”, they may constitute so-called “bridges” between different sexual networks and transfer various STIs between countries. It may be possible to identify a large proportion of potential risk-takers in advance with three questions e.g. at an appropriate facility. Will you go abroad this summer? Will you go without a regular partner and will you stay away for more than one month? If they answer, “yes” to all questions, it may be advisable to offer preventive information. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||