title: Sexual risk-taking during travel abroad - a cross-sectional survey among youth in Sweden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to assess sexual risk-taking behaviour in a sample of Swedish youth who were sexually active while travelling abroad and to examine possible associations with sexual risk-taking behaviour during such travel.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a population-based sample of 2189 Swedes 18-29 years, 768 who were sexually active while abroad, were assessed by a questionnaire concerning socio-demographic background, life-style, travel duration, sexuality, mental health, heavy episodic drinking (HED) and drug-use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 1/4 reported intercourse with a casual partner abroad. Casual sex was associated with HED, 18-24 years, and drug use in both sexes, and for women, also with ≥one month of travel. Among youth with casual partners, 48% reported non-condom use. Non-condom use with a casual partner was associated with 18-24 years, ≥one month of travel for women, and poor self-rated mental health for men. About 10% had ≥2 partners abroad. Having ≥2 partners abroad was associated with ≥one month of travel, and for men also with HED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male sex, 18-24 years of age, ≥1 month of travel, HED, and drug use were significantly associated with sexual risk-taking during travel abroad. Poor self-rated mental health and foreign-born parentage might also constitute risk factors for men.
authors.affiliation: Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: mats.sundbeck@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sundbeck
authors.affiliation: Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emmelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Public Health Agency, Health and Sexuality, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mannheimer
authors.affiliation: Regional Office of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Region Skåne, Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miörner
authors.affiliation: Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agardh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Condom; Risk-taking; STI; Sexual; Travel