Relationship quality, coital frequency, and condom use as predictors of incident genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection among adolescent women.
OBJECTIVE
To explore associations of relationship quality, coital frequency, unprotected coitus, and chlamydia infection over time.


METHODS
Data came from 142 adolescent females with sexually transmitted infections attending three primary care adolescent clinics and one county STD clinic. Interview data were collected at 3 time points: enrollment, 1 month, and 3 months after enrollment. Predictor variables included relationship quality, coital frequency, unprotected coitus, and partner change. The outcome variable was infection with C. trachomatis at 3 months. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling.


RESULTS
Chlamydia infection at 3 months was directly influenced by unprotected coitus during the previous 2 months (Beta = .25; p < or = .05) and partner change during the enrollment/1-month interval. Unprotected coitus was directly associated with coital frequency, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Increased relationship quality was associated with increased coital frequency but did not have direct effects on unprotected coitus.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed a protective effect of condom use for chlamydia infections. Prevention efforts should attend to the interpersonal factors behind decisions to use or not use condoms.
Sayegh
M Aaron
MA
Mid-America Adolescent STD Cooperative Research Center, Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. msayegh@iupui.edu
Fortenberry
J Dennis
JD
Anderson
James
J
Orr
Donald P
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations