title: Evaluating the Internet as a sexually transmitted disease risk environment for teens: findings from the communication, health, and teens study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the association between sexual health risks and online sex-seeking among teenagers. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between meeting sex partners online and a range of sexual risk behaviors and outcomes among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants aged 13 to 19 years were recruited from a publicly funded teen clinic in Florida. After obtaining informed consent/assent, 273 participants completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview that included questions on demographics, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted disease (STD) history, and online sex-seeking behaviors and experiences. Participants also provided urine samples for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to identify the association between having an online sex partner and sexual behaviors/outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for significant bivariate correlates, teens reporting online sex partners were more likely to be male, be multiracial, have a history of same-sex sexual activity, report a higher number of vaginal sex partners, and report a lower age at first vaginal sex. However, teens with online sex partners were no more likely to have ever had an STD or a current biological STD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is one of the first to correlate biological STD results to online sexual partnering data in a youth population. Although meeting a sex partner online was not associated with past or current STDs, it was associated with other sexual risk behaviors. Future research is needed to examine the complex nature of online sexual partnering among adolescents and to develop intervention approaches.
authors: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. ebuhi@health.usf.edu
authors: Eric R
authors: ER
authors: Buhi
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Klinkenberger
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: McFarlane
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Kachur
authors: Ellen M
authors: EM
authors: Daley
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Baldwin
authors: Heather D
authors: HD
authors: Blunt
authors: Shana
authors: S
authors: Hughes
authors: Christopher W
authors: CW
authors: Wheldon
authors: Cornelis
authors: C
authors: Rietmeijer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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