title: Boyfriends and booty calls: sexual partnership patterns among Canadian Aboriginal young people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexual partnership patterns, forced sex, and condom non-use can contribute to STI risk, but little is known about these patterns among Aboriginal young people despite elevated STI risk in this group. We describe sexual relationship and condom use patterns among Canadian Aboriginal young people, and how these patterns relate to the socio-structural context as experienced by young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use data from in-depth individual interviews conducted in 2004 with 22 young people who reported ever having sex and who self-identified as Aboriginal in British Columbia, Canada. A thematic analysis is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Young people described a range of partnership patterns, including 'on-off' relationships which could have high rates of partner turnover but could sometimes be viewed as acceptable contexts for pregnancy, precluding condom use. Contextual elements beyond individual control appeared to contribute to these patterns. Migration between geographic locations was linked with risky partnership patterns, especially if it was linked with family instability or substance use problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual health interventions for this group must address partnership patterns in addition to promoting condom use. Survey research into 'migration' as a risk factor for STI transmission should consider reasons for migration. Interventions that address both individual level behaviour and the contextual elements that shape behaviour should be developed and tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. karen.devries@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Devries
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Free
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D001955:British Columbia; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control