142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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305425
Substance Use and First Same-sex Sexual Experiences (FSSSE) in Young Black Same Gender Loving Adolescents (YBSGLAs)

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Adedotun Ogunbajo, MHS , Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Anthony Morgan , Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Jessica Oidtman, BA , Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Maria Trent, MD, MPH , Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Gary W. Harper, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD, MS , Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Renata Arrington-Sanders, MD, MPH, ScM , Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  
BACKGROUND:  Research suggests a relationship between substance use and risk taking sexual behaviors in adolescents. The purpose of this study is to explore how substance use is used during FSSSE in YBSGLAs as a first step in identifying public health prevention strategies to reduce adverse outcomes observed in this group.

METHODS: Forty-five YBSGLAs, 15-19 years old, in Baltimore, MD who reported prior FSSSE were recruited to participate in a semi-structured interview from clinics, venue/community-based outreach, Internet and snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded independently by two coders, and analyzed using inductive open-coding.

RESULTS: Participant’s mean age 17.9 (SD 1.9). Mean age at first sex 13.8 (SD 2.6). Eighteen percent of participants reported alcohol use, 39% marijuana use, and 16% used both marijuana and alcohol before or during FSSSE. Two themes emerged around substance use with FSSSE. Those who used drugs/alcohol, it functioned to relieve stress and boost sexual drive. Reported effects were categorized into positive: increased sexual excitement/arousal, and enhanced sexual experience and satisfaction; and negative: engaging in unplanned/unprotected sex. Participants who did not report substance use described limited to no function during FSSSE. Reasons for non-use included parental influences and concern for personal health.   

CONCLUSIONS: Substance use is often a part of the FSSSE in YBSGLAs. Youth reported that substances enhanced sexual experiences, but also increased risk-taking behaviors.  This work highlights the need for substance use management in risk reduction strategies for adolescent boys contemplating FSSSE to reduce HIV-related health disparities in same gender loving men.

Learning Areas:

Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the purpose and effects of substance use on first same-sex sexual experiences in Young Black Same Gender Loving Adolescents

Keyword(s): Risk Factors/Assesment, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a Masters in Health Science in Reproductive and Cancer Biology and Certificate in Health Disparities and Health Inequalities from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. My research focuses in on risk taking behavior in African-American gay youth in urban settings. I was actively involved in the formulation, implementation, and analysis of data from this research study. I will be starting coursework towards my MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences in Fall 2014.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5057.0: Substance Use and HIV/AIDS