Sexual abuse, sex before age 16, and high-risk behaviors of young females with sexually transmitted diseases.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in young women who were sexually abused, sexually precocious, and engaged in high-risk behaviors with the rates of STDs in young women who had none of these experiences. DESIGN: In this descriptive, comparative study, purposive, nonrandom sampling was used to obtain representation of women in four ethnic groups. Women completed a questionnaire on their sexual history and high-risk behaviors, sexual abuse and age of occurrence, and health issues, including STDs. Chi-square analyses were used to explore differences in these risk factors for STDs. SETTING: Data were collected at 44 urban and rural sites, including health clinics, private care providers, academic institutions, and Indian reservations. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 1,994 women ages 18-22 years and representing four ethnic groups. RESULTS: Sexually abused, precocious women who also engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors were the most likely to have had an STD: The sequence of these events was not significant. High-risk sexual behaviors appeared to be a greater risk factor for STDs than sexual abuse or precocity. CONCLUSIONS: Young women who engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, such as sex on a first date or with a stranger, are at great risk for acquiring STDs. Nurses must be advocates for sex education in high schools to inform teenagers about the dangers of high-risk behaviors and STDs, and to explain ways to handle sexual coercion and possible rape.