Anal sex among young people.

The experiences reported by a sample of 15-21-year-olds who participated in a trial of an HIV prevention program in three cities in 1998-2002 shed light on the predictors of heterosexual anal intercourse among young people. (1) All 1,348 participants had had unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse within the 90 days before being screened for the study and completing audio computer-assisted self-interviews. During those interviews, 16% reported having had heterosexual anal sex in the last 90 days. In logistic regression analyses that controlled for social, demographic, attitudinal and behavioral measures, only three characteristics were associated with the likelihood of this behavior among females--having a partner who had ever forced them to have sex (odds ratio, 2.7), living with a partner (1.8) and having had multiple partners (1.7). For males, the only predictor of recent anal intercourse was reporting a sexual orientation other than heterosexual (5.7). Given these findings, the researchers stress the importance of "open dialogue between providers and their young clients about anal intercourse." In particular, they note, "teaching adolescent girls and young women how to be assertive in sexual relationships ... is of the utmost importance."

(1.) Lescano CM et al., Correlates of heterosexual anal intercourse among at-risk adolescents and young adults, American Journal of Public Health, 2009, 99(6):1131-1136.

FYI is compiled and written by Dore Hollander, executive editor of Perspective on Sexual and Reproductive Health.