Correlates of sexual risk among sexual minority and heterosexual South African youths.
We explored psychosocial correlates of sexual risk among heterosexual and sexual minority youths (SMYs) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Young people 16 to 18 years old (n = 822) were administered surveys assessing demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, mental health, and parent-child communication. Adjusted multivariate regressions examining correlates of sexual risk revealed that SMYs had more sexual partners than heterosexual youths (B = 3.90; SE = 0.95; P < .001) and were more likely to engage in sex trading (OR = 3.11; CI = 1.12-8.62; P < .05). South African SMYs are at increased risk relative to their heterosexual peers.
Idia B. Thurston is with the Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. Janan Dietrich, Kennedy N. Otwombe, Busiswe Nkala, and Glenda E. Gray are with the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Laura M. Bogart is with Boston Children's Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Kathleen J. Sikkema is with the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC.
Idia B
IB
Thurston
Janan
J
Dietrich
Laura M
LM
Bogart
Kennedy N
KN
Otwombe
Kathleen J
KJ
Sikkema
Busiswe
B
Nkala
Glenda E
GE
Gray
D000293:Adolescent; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology