Associations between religiosity and sexual and contraceptive behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine associations between religiosity and female adolescents' sexual and contraceptive behaviors.


METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis on data from a randomized controlled trial comparing interventions designed to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Multivariable modeling assessed the association between a religiosity index consisting of items related to religious behaviors and impact of religious beliefs on decisions and sexual outcomes.


METHODS
572 female adolescents aged 13 to 21, recruited via a hospital-based adolescent clinic and community-wide advertisements.


METHODS
Sexual experience, pregnancy, STDs, number of lifetime partners, frequency of sexual activity, previous contraceptive use, and planned contraceptive use.


RESULTS
Mean participant age was 17.4 +/- 2.2 years and 68% had been sexually active. Most (74.1%) had a religious affiliation and over half (52.8%) reported that their religious beliefs impact their decision to have sex at least "somewhat." Multivariate analyses showed that, compared with those with low religiosity, those with high religiosity were less likely to have had sexual intercourse (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.39). Among sexually active participants, those with high religiosity were less likely to have been pregnant (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.97), to have had an STD (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.81), or to have had multiple (>or=4) lifetime partners (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.68) compared to those with low religiosity. Levels of religiosity were not significantly associated with frequency of intercourse, contraception use at last intercourse, or planned contraceptive use.


CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort, religiosity appeared to be a protective factor rather than a risk factor with regard to sexual behavior and was not associated with contraception use.
Gold
Melanie A
MA
Division of Student Affairs, University of Pittsburgh Student Health Service, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Sheftel
Anya V
AV
Chiappetta
Laurel
L
Young
Amanda J
AJ
Zuckoff
Allan
A
DiClemente
Carlo C
CC
Primack
Brian A
BA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012067:Religion; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult