Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116444

Joy P. Nanda, DSc, MS, MHS¹, Mian B. Hossain, MSC, MHS, PhD², Laurencia Hutton, MPH, CHES³, Yolanda A. Cavalier, MPH³, and Yvonne Bronner, ScD⁴. (1) Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, (2) MPH/DrPH Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 343 Jenkins Building, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251-0001, 443-885-4132, mbhossain@moac.morgan.edu, (3) Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 1700 E Cold Spring Lane, Jenkins Building 343, Baltimore, MD 21251, (4) MPH/DrPH Program, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251

Programs for prevention intervention of youth ATOD and other risky behaviors to alleviate STI risk have not always been effective, largely due to lack of program planning and implementation for specific race-gender subgroups. We analyzed the ADDHEALTH wave 3 (2001-2002) public use file (PUF3) to evaluate if significant correlation existed between ATOD use and sexually transmitted infection (STI) among race-gender specific youth subgroups.

The PUF3 had 4,882 youth from the original 1994 survey. STI measures were: confirmed diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomonas, herpes, HIV during past year. ATOD measures were cigarette, chewing tobacco, marijuana, cocaine use,and IDU

Among the 18-24 year old youth, 247 (5.2%) had a diagnosed STI and 44% used ATOD. We found a significant (p<0.001) race-gender interaction on STI distribution: Black males - 37/486(7.6%); Black females - 89/631(14.1%), White males – 33/1368(2.4%), White females – 52/1565(3.3%), Hispanic males – 7/235(3%), Hispanic females – 18/272(6.6%), Other males – 4/110(3.6%), Other females – 7/107(6.5%). Use of none, one, two or more drug use also varied significantly among race gender subgroups (p<0.001). Controlling for SES, behaviors, environment, and care seeking, STI risk was the highest among Black females (O.R. 5.8; 95%CI: 3.6-9.2;p<0.001) followed by Other females (O.R. 3.1; p<0.05), Hispanic females (O.R. 2.3; p<0.05), Black males (O.R. 2.5; p<0.01), compared with White females. Race-gender stratified regression analysis showed the risk of STI among ATOD users was the highest among Black males (O.R. 4.7;95%CI:1.5-15.1;p<0.01), followed by White males (O.R. 3.2;p<0.05) and Black females (O.R. 2.2;p<0.05).

Our findings suggest the need for race-gender group specific STI programs for youth..

Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the rates of ATOD use and STI rates among 18-24 year youth subgroups
• Differentiate the relationship between ATOD use and Sexually transmitted infections among race-gender youth subgroups

Keywords: STD Prevention, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.