title: Prevalence and Correlates of a Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A National Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people are recognized as a priority population for the control of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Australia. This article reports the prevalence of self-reported STI diagnoses and their correlates among Aboriginal people aged 16 to 29 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results were analyzed from a survey conducted between 2011 and 2013 at regular community events. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the correlates of a history of STI diagnosis among participants who reported being sexually active and ever having been tested for STIs. All analyses were stratified by sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2877 participants in this study, 2320, comprising 60% females, self-reported ever having had vaginal or anal sex, and a further subset of 1589 (68%) reported ever being tested for any of the following STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or trichomonas. Within this latter group, the proportion who reported that they had had a positive STI diagnosis was 25%. In multivariate analysis, women who reported sexual debut before the age of 16 years (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.81; P < 0.05), ever having had oral sex (PR, 2.66; 1.47-4.82; P < 0.001), inconsistent condom use in the past 12 months (PR, 1.71; 1.13-2.58; P < 0.012), having had sex with someone they had just met (adjusted odds ratio, 1.74; 1.21-2.50; P < 0.003), and using ecstasy (PR, 1.81; 1.16-2.81; P < 0.009) were significantly associated with a self-reported history of an STI diagnosis. For men, being older (25-29 years; PR, 2.10; 1.10-3.96; P < 0.023), being gay or bisexual (PR, 2.22; 1.16-4.27; P < 0.016), not using a condom during last sex, (PR, 1.74; 1.10-2.76; P < 0.019), past ecstasy use (PR, 1.88; 1.11-3.20; P < 0.019), and injecting drug use (PR, 2.81; 1.35-5.88); P < 0.006) were independent predictors of ever reporting being diagnosed as having an STI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the first community-based survey of this population, a self-reported history of ever being diagnosed as having prevalent STIs was common in sexually active young Aboriginal people who reported STI testing in the past. This population requires targeted education and health service interventions to address the high burden of STIs.
authors: From the *South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; †Kirby Institute and ‡Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia; §Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney, Mount Druitt, New South Wales, Australia; ¶School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia; ∥Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; **Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia; ††Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; ‡‡Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia; and Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Ward
authors: Handan
authors: H
authors: Wand
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Bryant
authors: Dea
authors: D
authors: Delaney-Thiele
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Worth
authors: Marian
authors: M
authors: Pitts
authors: Kat
authors: K
authors: Byron
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Moore
authors: Basil
authors: B
authors: Donovan
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Kaldor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples