title: Prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviour in Jamaican adults and its relationship to sociodemographic and religious factors: findings from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviours among Jamaican adults and evaluate associations with sociodemographic and religious factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study, using a nationally representative sample of Jamaicans, 15-74 years old. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire including questions on sexual activity, sociodemographic factors and religious practice. Having two or more sexual partners in the past year, non-use of condoms among persons with multiple partners and a history of previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) were the high-risk characteristics considered in the analysis. We obtained crude and category specific prevalence estimates for high-risk behaviour and estimated odds ratios for association with sociodemographic and religious factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 2833 participants who reported on sexually activity were analysed. Approximately 25% (95% CI 22, 27) of Jamaican adults had two or more sexual partners in the past year while 15% (95% CI 13, 17) had a past history of an STI. Approximately 6% (95% CI 5, 7) of persons with multiple partners did not use condoms during sexual intercourse. Overall, 32% (95% CI 30, 35) had any one of the three high-risk characteristics (male, 48%; female, 17%, p < 0.001). Being married, active religious practice and weekly attendance at religious meetings were associated with lower odds of high-risk sexual behaviour while being in a visiting relationship was associated with higher odds of high-risk behaviour
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A third of Jamaicans reported sexual practices that increase their risk of HIV infection. High-risk sexual behaviour was more common among men. Being married and weekly attendance at religious services were associated with lower odds of high-risk behaviour
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Centre, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: N O M
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Younger
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tulloch-Reid
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewis-Fuller
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilks
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012737:Sex Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult