Between Synergy and Travesty: A Sexual Risk Syndemic Among Pregnant Latina Immigrant and Non-immigrant Adolescents

Abstract

Substance use, intimate partner violence, and depression contribute to sexual risk individually, yet have not been evaluated as a syndemic for adolescents. Using data from 772 pregnant Latina adolescents, we evaluated these factors as a syndemic and tested the moderating role of immigration. Bivariate analyses showed syndemic score (OR = 1.40, p = 0.02) and severity (OR = 1.68, p = 0.006) were predictors for multiple sex partners, and syndemic score predicting STIs (OR = 1.15, p = 0.05). Syndemic severity remained significant in multivariate analyses for multiple sex partners (OR = 1.53, p = 0.04). Moderation analyses showed higher syndemic severity was associated with more condom use among immigrants (OR = 1.75, p = 0.04) and less condom use (OR = 0.07, p = 0.011) among those with separated orientation. Higher syndemic severity also predicted greater odds for multiple partners (OR = 2.40, p = 0.01) among immigrants. This evidence suggests a sexual risk syndemic exists among Latina adolescents. Research should continue exploring this phenomenon, particularly exploring the role immigration plays for sexual health.