The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69813

Kavita Thirumalai, MPH¹, Supriya Rao, MPH², Rocio G. Luna, MPH³, Mohammad M Rahman, MD, DrPH², Thien-Nhien Luong, MPH², Aimee Reedy, MPH², and Guadalupe S Olivas, PhD². (1) Epidemiology and Data Management Unit, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 3003 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128, 408-423-0731, kavita.thirumalai@hhs.co.santa-clara.ca.us, (2) Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 3003 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128, (3) Research Planning and Evaluation, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 3003 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128

Objective: To investigate behaviors associated with high school students who have been forced into sex.

Methods: A school based survey called California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) was administered to 10,488 high school students in Santa Clara County during Fall 2001-Spring 2002.This self reported survey was conducted to assess the overall health and behaviors of school students.

Results: Of the 2,121 students who ever had sex, 18% (95% CI: 16.3-19.6) reported being forced to have sex (Females - 24.4%, 95%CI: 21.8-26.9 > Males - 11.2%, 95%CI: 9.3-13.1). Students who were forced to have sex were compared to those who were not forced to have sex. After adjusting for gender, race, and grade, students who were forced to have sex were more likely to initiate sexual activity before age 13 (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.4 - 3.0), become pregnant or get someone pregnant (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.2), attempt suicide (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.6-2.9), smoke regularly (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.0), and carry a gun on school property (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1). Furthermore, these students were also more likely to be harassed on school property because of religion (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.3).

Conclusion: High school students who were forced to having sex also exhibited other high risk behaviors and were more prone to being harassed compared to students who were not forced to have sex.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation and discussion the participants will be able to
• Identify risk factors associated with being forced into sex.
• Identify disparities that might exist in gender and race among high school students.
• Apply survey data to educate school and community based programs.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.