title: Frequency of sexual partner change in a Norwegian population. Data distribution and covariates.
abstract: The number of new sexual partners per year (partner frequency) is a key factor in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Data from two Norwegian population-based surveys conducted in 1987 and 1992 were used to estimate recent (in the previous 3 years) and earlier partner frequency and to examine covariates affecting the distribution of partner frequency. Seventy-two percent of respondents reported having no new partners per year, and 2% reported having more than three new partners per year. Results from a Poisson regression model indicated that a low partner frequency was associated with being married or cohabiting, being female, greater age, and late sexual debut. Partner frequency was lower in 1992 than in 1987 (rate ratio = 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.7-0.9). In comparison with earlier life, there was a large reduction in partner frequency for married/cohabiting individuals. In contrast, there was either no change or some increase in partner frequency for single persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stigum
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Samuelsen
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Bakketeig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009664:Norway; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires