title: Individual and community risk factors and sexually transmitted diseases among arrested youths: a two level analysis.
abstract: High rates of infection for chlamydia and gonorrhea have been noted among youths involved in the juvenile justice system. Although both individual and community-level factors have been found to be associated with sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk, their relative importance has not been tested in this population. A two-level logistic regression analysis was completed to assess the influence of individual-level and community-level predictors on STD test results among arrested youths processed at a centralized intake facility. Results from weighted two level logistic regression analyses (n = 1,368) indicated individual-level factors of gender (being female), age, race (being African American), and criminal history predicted the youths' positive STD status. For the community-level predictors, concentrated disadvantage significantly and positively predicted the youths' STD status. Implications of these findings for future research and public health policy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Criminology Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. jac@gate.net
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dembo
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belenko
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wareham
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmeidler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000652:urine; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine